§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to send letters of reminder before reaching a decision in immigration cases where the applicant must supply evidence to his Department within a reasonable time and the information is not then to hand.
§ Mr. WaddingtonApplicants are allowed a reasonable time in which to provide information we need to resolve their cases. Where it appears that the applicant is taking an undue period to send in this evidence, our practice is to send a standard reminder letter which refers to the 637W previous request and explains that, if the information sought is not provided within two weeks, the application may be refused.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make it his policy not to refuse applications for extension of leave to stay in the United Kingdom on the grounds of unreasonable delay in producing documents or other evidence of support unless a reminder has been sent to the applicant and a further period allowed for reply.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThis is already our practice. If the hon. and learned Member has any particular case in mind in which he considers that this has not happened I shall willingly look into it.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that any representations by hon. Members in immigration cases may be rejected or refused only on the personal authority of a Minister of the Crown in his Department after personal consideration by such a Minister.
§ Mr. HurdThe respective roles of Ministers, their Private Offices and the immigration service are set out in the guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, which this House endorsed on 26 March.