§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1 January 1973 he has used, as an alternative to deportation, the power to curtail stay or refuse to extend a stay followed after departure by a prohibition on re-entry, broken down by country of origin.
§ Mr. RaisonThere are no available statistics, but the powers of curtailment are used comparatively rarely. There is a right of appeal against a decision to curtail stay and against a refusal to extend a stay (provided that the relevant application was lodged while the person had a concurrent leave to remain). Deportation may be necessary in either case if the person concerned does not leave voluntarily after the exhaustion of appeal rights. The Immigration Act 1971 provides that, once deported, a person may not re-enter while the deportation order is in force. No such prohibition follows upon curtailment of stay or refusal of an extension, and an application to re-enter in those circumstances would be considered on its merits.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of removals since 1 January 1973 (a) by way of supervised departure under the procedure now set out in HC394, paragraph 141 and (b) of mental patients under the Medical Health Act 1959 section 90, the Mental (Health) Scotland Act 1960 section S.82 and the 8W Immigration Act 1971 section 30, broken down by country of origin.
§ Mr. RaisonThe information as at 31 December 1979 is as follows:—
9W
(a) Supervised departures Algeria 15 Argentina 1 Australia 4 Austria 1 Bangladesh 4 Belgium 5 Bermuda 1 Brazil 3 Canada 5 Chile 1 Colombia 8 Cyprus 6 Denmark 3 Egypt 47 Finland 1 France 41 Germany 26 Ghana 7 Greece 8 Hong Kong 2 India 12 Iran 33 Irish Republic 20 Italy 50 Jamaica 1 Japan 1 Jordan 1 Lebanon 1 Libya 11 Malaysia 1 Mauritius 7 Morocco 8 Netherlands 7 New Zealand 1 Nigeria 12 Norway 3 Pakistan 13 Peru 1 Poland 5 Portugal 3 Rhodesia 1 Roumania 1 Sierra Leone 3 South Africa 5 South Yemen 1 Spain 24 Sri Lanka 1 Sweden 2 Switzerland 5 Tanzania 1 Thailand 3 Tunisia 1 Turkey 31 Uruguay 1 United States of America 39 Venezuela 13 Yugoslavia 4 Doubtful 22 Total 538
(b) Repatriation under the Mental Health Acts Austria 1 Barbados 1 Canada 1 Colombia 1 Cyprus 1 Dominica 1 Finland 1 France 4 Germany 3 Ghana 1 Grenada 1 Guyana 1 Hong Kong 1 Hungary 1 Iran 1 Irish Republic 4 Italy 5 Jordan 1 New Zealand 1 Nigeria 8 Norway 1 Philippines 1 Poland 2 St. Kitts 2 Spain 1 Trinidad 1 United States of America 6 Total 53
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of applications for revocation of a deportation order since 1 January 1973, together with the number granted, broken down by country of origin; and what is the approximate length of time from the date of application to the decision.
§ Mr. RaisonI regret that the information requested in the first part of the question is not available. While the length of time needed to reach a decision varies, in a straightforward case it is normally taken within a few weeks.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why persons from Iran and the States of Arabia are allowed to enter freely into Great Britain to remain for unlimited time, and in the case of some students involve themselves in terrorist activities, whilst an absolute ban is placed upon persons wishing to enter from former British Empire States in South-East Asia and other areas.
§ Mr. RaisonApplications by people subject to immigration control to enter or remain in this country are dealt with on their merits in accordance with the Immigration rules. The assumptions made in the question are incorrect.