§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will now take steps to reduce the waiting time for United Kingdom passport holders to enter the United Kingdom from India;
(2) whether he will review the allocation of special vouchers to India.
(3) whether it is still the policy of his Department not to publish the allocation of special vouchers to particular countries;
(4) if he will transfer those special vouchers allocated to British passport holders in East Africa which are not taken up to applicants in India.
§ Mr. RaisonWaiting times in India could be reduced only by increasing the number of vouchers available. The allocation of vouchers to particular countries is kept under review. I have today, in response to an inquiry from the Home Affairs Sub-Committee on Race Relations and Immigration, written to the Chairman to let him know that 600 vouchers each year are allocated to India.
§ Dr. Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants of all ages were admitted for permanent residence in the United Kingdom in the latest year for which figures are available, and for each year since 1960.
§ Mr. RaisonThe total numbers accepted for settlement on arrival and on removal of time limit in 1981 were published in table 1 of Home Office statistical bulletin, issue No. 3/82—"Control of immigration, statistics 1981" on 3 March 1982. Corresponding figures for the years 1970 to 1980 were published in table 12 of Cmnd. 8199 "Control of immigration: statistics, United Kingdom 1980" in May 1981, and for the years 1968 and 1969 in the corresponding command paper for 1978 Cmnd.7565). Corresponding figures for earlier years could not be provided within the time allowed.