§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Syrians are in the United Kingdom; how many Iranians are in the United Kingdom; how many Syrians have overstayed their visas; how many Iranians have overstayed their visas; if he is taking steps to find out how many Syrians and Iranians are in the United Kingdom illegally; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonPrecise estimates of the numbers of nationals of particular countries in the United Kingdom at any particular time are not available. However, based on the results of the labour force survey, we estimate that there are about 25,000 Iranian nationals and about 2,000 Syrian nationals resident in Great Britain.
In 1985, 36,000 Iranian visitors, 1,000 Iranian students and 10,000 Iranian transit passengers were admitted at United Kingdom ports. The equivalent figures for Syrians were 11,500 visitors, 1,000 students and nearly 1,500 transit passengers. More detailed information about Iranians and Syrians admitted at United Kingdom ports in 1984 was published in the "Control of Immigration: Statistics" (Cmnd. 9544). Similar information for 1985 will be published later this year.
There are no special arrangements for recording the landings and embarkations of all Syrians and Iranians, so that the information requested in the second part of the question is not available. As with other nationalities, the recording of landing and embarkation is selective; 515W investigation of apparent overstaying is also conducted on a selective basis. We are satisfied that this approach represents the best use of available resources.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent immigration records accurately show the number of foreigners leaving the United Kingdom; how many foreigners have overstayed their visa; how many Libyans have overstayed their visa; if he is taking any steps to find out how many Libyans are in the United Kingdom illegally; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Waddington[pursuant to his reply, 15 May 1986, c. 516]: The recording of landings and embarkations is selective. Where landing details are recorded, subsequent embarkation or the subsequent grant of leave to remain can be readily confirmed in about 95 per cent. of cases. The remaining 5 per cent., who may have overstayed, are selectively investigated; in most of the cases investigated embarkation is confirmed, or an application for renewed leave to remain is received. Statistics relating to all foreign nationals are not, however, available in the form requested.
Since May 1984 the landings and embarkations of all Libyan nationals admitted on conditions have been recorded and every indication of apparent overstaying is followed up. Of the 5,560 Libyan nationals so admitted between then and 31 March 1986 there were, as at 21 May 1986, 54 cases in which an individual's leave had expired but in which there was no evidence that he had left the United Kingdom, or applied for an extension of stay. These remaining cases are being vigorously investigated to establish whether embarkation, though not yet recorded, has in fact occurred, or whether action is necessary to enforce departure.