§ Lord AVEBURYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, under the proposed new Immigration Rules, the application of a person wishing to enter the United Kingdom as a person of independent means or a self-employed person will be referred to the Home Office at Lunar House by the British Embassy or High Commission to which it is made; how many such applications were received in 1978 at overseas posts, and how many of them were referred to the Home Office; and on what date the application longest outstanding on the latest convenient date which was submitted to the Home Office was made.
§ Lord BELSTEADWhether it will be necessary to refer to the Home Office applications for entry clearance as a self-employed person or a person of independent means will depend on the circumstances of the case. The information necessary to answer the other parts of the noble Lord's Question is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.