HC Deb 01 August 1984 vol 65 cc309-14W
Mr. Stanbrook

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made to detect foreign nationals arriving in the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland who are not themselves citizens of the Republic and who seek to evade United Kingdom immigration control by travelling together with citizens of the Republic.

Mr. Waddington

In general, in accordance with the arrangements governing the common travel area, arrival in the United Kingdom on a local journey from the Republic of Ireland is not subject to control under the Immigration Act 1971. A foreign passenger who enters the United Kingdom via the Republic of Ireland is subject to the provisions of the Immigration (Control of Entry through the Republic of Ireland) Order 1972.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance were (a) received, (b) granted and (c) refused for immediate settlement by parents and grandparents of

Refusal rates* for applications for entry clearance for immediate settlement
Indian sub-continent Percentages
Wives Children Other dependent relatives Others Total
Dhaka
1982 32 45 26 †50 42
1983 46 60 43 †100 56
Islamabad
1982 26 37 77 †25 35
1983 26 37 73 †67 35
Bombay
1982 2 19 49 12 22
1983 3 17 43 16 19
New Delhi
1982 6 47 58 23 39
1983 6 44 70 14 37
* Refusals as a percentage of applications decided.
† Refusal rate based on fewer than 5 decisions.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters from members and from community groups supporting individuals affected by the enforcement of immigration control were received by his Department in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and in the last six months, respectively.

Mr. Waddington

Information on the number of representations from hon. Members, or others, in cases involving the removal or deportation of those subject to immigration control is not recorded separately.

United Kingdom residents from (i) all countries and (iii) the Indian subcontinent in 1981, 1982, 1983 and the first and second quarters of 1984.

Mr. Waddington

Information on applications for entry clearance is available only for the Indian subcontinent. Annual information on dependent parents granted entry clearance in the Indian subcontinent for immediate settlement in 1981–83 is published in table 6 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Immigration from the Indian Sub-Continent, 1983" (Issue 12/84). The corresponding number of dependent grandparents for the period 1981–83 was 10, and in the first quarter of 1984, 60 parents and no grandparents were granted entry clearance. The other information requested on applications from parents and grandparents in the Indian subcontinent is not separately available, but is included under "other dependent relatives" in table 7 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom 1983" (Cmnd. 9246) giving information up to 1983; in the first quarter of 1984, 330 applications from "other dependent relatives" were received, 100 granted and 110 refused.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the refusal rates for applications for immediate settlement in 1982 and 1983 in (a) Dhaka, (b) Islamabad, (c) Bombay and (d) New Delhi from (i) wives, (ii) children, (iii) other dependent relatives, (iv) others and (v) in total.

Mr. Waddington

The information requested is given in the following table:

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people by nationality were (a) refused admission and (b) granted temporary admission to the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1984.

Mr. Waddington

Figures of refusals of leave to enter the United Kingdom, by nationality, for the first quarter of 1984 are given in the following table; corresponding figures are not yet available for the second quarter. In the first quarter of 1984, 1,759 persons were given temporary admission pending further examinations or following refusal of leave to enter; separate figures for those temporary admissions following refusal of leave to enter and a breakdown by nationality could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Refusals of leave to enter the United Kingdom by nationality, January—March 1984
Number refused
All countries (including EC) 3,933
EC Nationals
Belgium 8
Denmark 6
France 39
Germany (Federal Republic) 39
Greece 27
Italy 42
Luxembourg
Netherlands 54
EC Nationals 215
Other Western Europe
Austria 24
Cyprus 26
Finland 10
Malta 5
Norway 6
Portugal 65
Spain 86
Sweden 24
Switzerland 15
Turkey 128
Yugoslavia 24
Other Western Europe 413
Eastern Europe
Bulgaria 4
Czechoslovakia 2
GDR
Hungary 4
Poland 23
Romania 2
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 28
Eastern Europe 63
Europe 691
Americas
Argentina 20
Barbados 1
Brazil 11
Canada 8
Chile 5
Colombia 31
Cuba
Guyana 17
Jamaica 10
Mexico 8
Peru 5
Trinidad and Tobago 2
United States of America 146
Uruguay 1
Venezuela 7
Americas 272
Africa
Algeria 83
Egypt 11
Ethiopia 1
Number refused
Ghana 343
Kenya 32
Libya 10
Mauritius 14
Morocco 90
Nigeria 708
Sierra Leone 11
Somalia
South Africa 15
Sudan 10
Tanzania 37
Tunisia 34
Uganda 24
Zambia 9
Zimbabwe 20
Africa 1,452
Asia: Indian sub-continent
Bangladesh 78
India 418
Pakistan 295
Indian sub-continent 791
Middle East
Iran 62
Iraq 36
Israel 31
Jordan 3
Kuwait
Lebanon 11
Saudi Arabia 15
Syria 7
Middle East 165
Remainder of Asia
China 5
Indonesia 1
Japan 9
Malaysia 37
Philippines 24
Singapore 10
Sri Lanka 113
Thailand 4
BDTC Hong Kong 31
Remainder of Asia 234
Asia 1,190
Australasia
Australia 22
New Zealand 5
Australasia 27
British Overseas Citizens 8
Other countries 112
Stateless 181
All countries (excluding EC) 3,718
Foreign (excluding EC) 1,695
Commonwealth 2,023
Old Commonwealth 35
Number refused
New Commonwealth and Pakistan 2,283
Foreign (excluding Pakistan and EC) 1,400

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals against (a) refusal of entry clearance, and (b) refusal to revoke or vary leave to enter or remain were (i) determined and (ii) successful in each of the years, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, respectively.

Mr. Waddington

The appellate authorities have provided the following information:

(a) Appeals against refusal of entry clearance
Year Determined* Allowed
1979 5,936 1,363
1980 7,807 1,736
1981 8,478 1,800
1982 7,600 1,690
1983 6,359 1,671
(b) Appeals against refusal to revoke or vary leave to enter or remain
Year Determined* Allowed
1979 2,455 130
1980 2,853 171
1981 2,891 172
1982 3,496 262
1983 2,577 290
* Includes appeals allowed, dismissed or where the appellate authorities had no jurisdiction.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to decide when to take action to enforce immigration controls against those who, according to the computerised information system, have overstayed their leave.

Mr. Waddington

Paragraph 158 of the immigration rules provides that deportation will normally be the proper course in cases of unauthorised stay, but that full account is to be taken to all the relevant circumstances including those listed in paragraph 156 of the rules.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is taken when the Home Office or the Metropolitan police receive an anonymous letter alleging that someone is in the United Kingdom in breach of the Immigration Act 1971.

Mr. Waddington

Every effort is made to ensure that all reasonable checks are carried out in order to assess the reliability of the anonymous information before any other action is taken. If further investigation seems justified this will, in general, be conducted by the immigration service and information furnished to the police when it appears that an offender may be identified at a particular address.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to determine when an appeal will be listed for hearing by the immigration appellate authorities.

Mr. Waddington

The arrangements for the hearing of appeals are the responsibility of the independent appellate authorities. I understand from the immigration appeals secretariat that in general appeals to adjudicators are listed for hearing in the order the explanatory statements are received. Priority is given to the listing of deportation appeals, particularly where the appellant is detained. Overseas cases are listed when the appellant's United Kingdom representatives confirm that they are ready to proceed.

The listing of appeals to the immigration appeal tribunal is by agreement between the appellate authorities and the parties to the appeal.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing, in every quarter since 1 January 1983 for each post in the Indian sub-continent, how many applications for entry clearance from (a) husband and (b) fiancés were received, granted and refused, and showing how many refusals in each category were because (i) the wife or fiancée did not meet the citizenship requirement, (ii) the couple had not met, (iii) the primary purpose of the marriage was immigration, (iv) the couple did not intend to live together and (v) a combination of reasons including (iii) above (vi) other reasons.

Mr. Waddington

I will reply as soon as possible and publish the information in theOfficial Report.

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