HC Deb 03 May 1974 vol 872 cc264-5W
Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases he has before him at the present time of British wives married to foreign husbands who have appealed to him on grounds of hardship for permission to reside in this country as a family; and how many such cases have been considered in each year since the nationality regulations were amended.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.

Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he takes into account when he is deciding hardship cases where a British woman is married to a foreign husband and wishes to reside in the United Kingdom as a family.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Each case is considered on its individual merits. Factors taken into account could include hardship for the wife if she had to live in her husband's country due to differences of race, language, customs, religion or economic circumstances or because she could not pursue her career or occupation there; serious risk to the wife's health; hardship for the children, including children of any earlier marriage, if they could not continue their education in the United Kingdom; or hardship for one of the wife's parents if dependent on her for care.

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