HC Deb 14 May 1985 vol 79 cc83-4W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to open an immigration office in Mirpur.

Mr. Renton

I visited Mirpur in January and have considered the matter carefully in the light of a number of representations and a recommendation in the Commission for Racial Equality report. The journey from Mirpur to Islamabad takes only two to three hours by road; there is a regular and inexpensive bus service. I do not believe that there is any justification for opening an immigration office in Mirpur, particularly in view of the limited resources available to us for overseas representation.

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to open an immigration office in Sylhet.

Mr. Renton

In the light of various representations and a recommendation in the Commission for Racial Equality report, I have considered the matter carefully, particularly since my visit to Bangladesh in January. Applicants come from the large Syhlet district, not only from Sylhet town, and Dhaka is more convenient than Sylhet town for many of them. The journey from Sylhet to Dhaka is not expensive and there are good road, rail and air links. The problem for most applicants is getting from their village to Sylhet and not from Sylhet to Dhaka. Operational problems relating to the opening of the office would be formidable and I cannot accept that the expenditure on such a project would be justified.