§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications submitted by Libyans for entry into the United Kingdom are currently awaiting authorisation by Her Majesty's Government; how many of these are new applications; and how many have been submitted by Libyans seeking entry into the United Kingdom for a second or subsequent time.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will describe the new visa regime imposed for Libyans seeking entry into the United Kingdom since the severance of diplomatic relations between Libya and the United Kingdom in May.
§ Mr. WaddingtonMy right hon. and learned Friend announced on 1 May a number of immigration restrictions on the entry and stay in this country of Libyan nationals. Visitors are granted visas for stays of shorter duration, adapted to the circumstances of each case. Applications from those who seek to come here as students, in particular, are subject to stringent checks, and Libyan students are not normally given permission to stay for304W more than one term at a time. Applications for visas must be made to a British consular post outside Libya, and all such applications are referred to the Home Office for a decision. All applicants for visas are asked to sign a declaration undertaking to refrain from the expression of any political opinion through violence. Similar restrictions apply to applications for extensions of stay from Libyan nationals in this country. These arrangements are kept under review.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of Libyans admitted to the United Kingdom since the severance of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Libya in May, and if he will indicate (a) those who have been given entry for the first time and (b) those who had previously been granted visas authorising entry into the United Kingdom prior to May.
§ Mr. WaddingtonA total of 700 Libyan nationals was admitted to the United Kingdom in the period May to August 1984, following the severance of diplomatic relations with Libya on 22 April 1984. The information requested on admissions for the first time and on persons who had been granted visas prior to May 1984 is not available.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new visas were issued to Libyans for entry into the United Kingdom for each month in 1983 and 1984.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThis is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. However, I understand that the information requested is not available. Returns of visa statistics kept by posts abroad indicate the total number of visas issued, which are not broken down by nationality.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average length of time for a visa to be granted to a Libyan seeking entry for the first time into the United Kingdom for (a) business purposes, (b) educational purposes, (c) medical purposes and (d) visiting and tourist purposes.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Urgent compassionate and medical cases are given priority.