§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his intention to expand the categories of persons eligible for settlement listed in paragraph 133 of the immigration rules to include further categories; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonWe have no such intention at present, but we have undertaken to consider an amendment to add to the categories listed in paragraph 133 of the immigration rules when a suitable opportunity arises.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in each of the categories listed in paragraph 133 (a) to (f) of the immigration rules have been refused settlement in each of the last 10 years, showing for each category the grounds for refusal.
§ Mr. WaddingtonSuch information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stops were effected in immigration cases by Members of the House of Lords in the last five years for which figures are available.
657W
§ Mr. WaddingtonRelevant information is available only for Heathrow, terminal 3 and refers to those cases where removal is deferred following refusal of leave to enter. This information is as follows:
Number 1981 66 1982 54 1983 60 1984 38 1985 25
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department had with representatives of immigration officers or their unions prior to or during the preparation of the draft guidelines on the handling of representations by Members in immigration cases.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI met members of the executive committee of the Immigration Service Union at their request on 17 October 1985. They expressed concern at the increase in operational pressures which had occurred last year, including the increase in the number of cases attracting representations from right hon. and hon. Members. Officials of the Home Office have also had meetings with representatives both of the Immigration Service Union and the Society of Civil and Public Servants (Immigration Branch), which also represents some immigration officers, when the increase in the number of cases attracting representations was also discussed.
Both unions were sent copies of the draft guidelines after they had been placed in the Library on 11 February; neither was consulted about the draft guidelines before that date.