§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been received since June 1983 from Sri Lankan nationals, giving figures separately for Singalese and Tamils (a) to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor, (b) to enter the United Kingdom as a student, (c) seeking exceptional leave to enter the United Kingdom and (d) for refugee status or political asylum in the United Kingdom; and, in each of these cases, how many were dealt with by entry clearance officers in the United Kingdom, how many by entry clearance officers in Sri Lanka and how many by his Department; and, in this last category, how many were subject to representations by Members of Parliament.
§ Mr. WaddingtonInformation is not readily available in the form requested. Immigration statistics are kept by nationality and not according to ethnic group and information on entry clearance applications made abroad by Sri Lankan nationals is not available centrally.
Between 1 July 1983 and 29 February 1984 some 10,570 Sri Lankan nationals were admitted to the United Kingdom as visitors and 780 as students. A further 8,470 were admitted for other purposes and 430 were refused leave to enter.
Between 1 July 1983 and 31 March 1984 approximately 320 applications (covering some 420 people) were received from Sri Lankan nationals seeking asylum here or leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom and giving a fear of return to Sri Lanka as one of their main reasons. Approximately 110 of these applications have been the subject of representations from hon. Members.