§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if different treatment is accorded to men and women under the Immigration Act 1971 and the British Nationality Act 1981.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThere are a limited number of provisions of the Immigration Act 1971 and the British Nationality Act 1981 which treat the sexes differently.
§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average the sponsor of an applicant for entry clearance as a fiancée or spouse has to wait for an interview, where appropriate, from the time of interview of the applicant; and if there are any differences dependent upon the location of the sponsor.
§ Mr. WaddingtonWaiting times depend upon the number of staff available to conduct interviews, which varies between different parts of the country and times of the year. Records are not kept in a way that would enable an average figure to be obtained.
§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the effect of the new visa regulations on the rate of immigration from the Indian sub-continent.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe new visa requirements are an administrative arrangement which moves the decision on the claim to admission by visitors and students from ports of entry to our missions abroad. The criteria for admission are not changed.