Immigration (Hansard, 21 June 1984)

§ Mr. Corbyn
asked the Secretary of State for the Home: Department why there is no information available on the number of applications for entry clearance for entry into the United Kingdom, and the outcome of those applications by husbands and fiancés, in countries outside the Indian subcontinent.

§ Mr. Waddington
The collection of data on applications for entry clearance from countries outside the Indian subcontinent was terminated at the end of 1979 because it was considered that its usefulness did not justify the resources required to undertake it. Information 219W continues to be collected for the countries of the Indian subcontinent because of the large number of applications there. Information on acceptances for settlement and admissions of husbands and fiancés is available for all countries.

§ Mr. Corbyn
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the refusals of applications for entry clearance from husbands and fiancés in the Indian sub-continent in 1982 and each subsequent year were (a) because the wife or fiancées did not satisfy the citizenship and birth requirements, (b) because the couple had not met, (c) because the entry clearance officer had reason to believe that the couple did not intend to live together as man and wife, (d) because the entry clearance officer had reason to believe that the primary purpose of the marriage was immigration or (e) because of a combination of circumstances including (b) above.

§ Mr. Waddington
The information requested is given in the following table:

Husbands and fiancés refused entry clearance for leave to enter the United Kingdom under the 1980 or 1983 rules^*

Indian sub-continent Number of persons

Reason for refusal †l982 1983 ‡l984

Solely because of citizenship and birth requirement of woman║ 230 60 10

Solely because couple had not met 170 110 —

Solely because couple did not intend to live together 10 10 —

Solely because primary purpose of the marriage was to obtain admission to United Kingdom 20 500 250

Couple had not met, plus at least one other reason 170 170 20

Other reasons and other combinations 50 110 40

Total 640 960 320

^*Excluding husbands and fiancés refused entry clearance under the 1977 immigration rules.

†Estimated; information for 1982 on reasons for refusal is incomplete.

‡First quarter.

║Woman was not a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, born in the United Kingdom or with one parent born in the United Kingdom (1980 rules); woman was not a British citizen (1983 rules).

§ Mr. Peter Bruinvels
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were refused entry into the United Kingdom by immigration officers at East Midlands airport in each of the last three years; and, of these, how many were sent back to their country of origin within 48 hours of arrival.

§ Mr. Waddington
The numbers of persons refused leave to enter the United Kingdom at East Midlands airport during 1981, 1982 and 1983 were two, five, and 16, respectively, of whom one in 1981 and one in 1983 were removed within 48 hours of their arrival in the United Kingdom to the countries where their journeys began.

Husbands and fiancés refused entry clearance for leave to enter the United Kingdom under the 1980 or 1983 rules^*
Indian sub-continent	Number of persons
Reason for refusal	†l982	1983	‡l984
Solely because of citizenship and birth requirement of woman║	230	60	10
Solely because couple had not met	170	110	—
Solely because couple did not intend to live together	10	10	—
Solely because primary purpose of the marriage was to obtain admission to United Kingdom	20	500	250
Couple had not met, plus at least one other reason	170	170	20
Other reasons and other combinations	50	110	40
Total	640	960	320
^*Excluding husbands and fiancés refused entry clearance under the 1977 immigration rules.
†Estimated; information for 1982 on reasons for refusal is incomplete.
‡First quarter.
║Woman was not a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, born in the United Kingdom or with one parent born in the United Kingdom (1980 rules); woman was not a British citizen (1983 rules).