HL Deb 23 January 1979 vol 397 cc1381-3WA
Lord AVEBURY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the application by Mr. Dansukhlal Thakerbhai Patel to the

The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

The tables below show the time people interviewed at the end of December 1978 had waited, and how long those who applied at that time are expected to wait.

British Embassy in Paris on 16th November 1977 for an entry certificate to come to the United Kingdom as the husband of a United Kingdom citizen was referred to Delhi, and what information, if any, was obtained from Delhi which had not already been supplied by Mr. Patel; on what date this application was referred to the Home Office; why it has been under consideration by them for so long and whether they will now instruct the British Embassy in Paris to issue an entry certificate forthwith.

The MINISTER of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Boston of Faversham)

It is customary to refer an application for entry clearance from someone in a country other than his own to the British post in his own country for background information. In this instance the post there had no knowledge of him. Mr. Patel's application was received by the Home Office early in May 1978. Mrs. Patel was interviewed on 25th August. I am sorry that the consideration of this application has taken so long, but instructions have now been given for the issue of an entry certificate to enable Mr. Patel to join his wife in the United Kingdom.