§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent, under his proposed regulations requiring prior entry clearance for certain 803W visitors to the United Kingdom, the entry clearance officer will be expected to make a decision without reference to his Department; what extra work will be involved for his Department if such references are made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonEntry clearance officers will in the normal way resolve visit visa applications from the new visa nationals without referral wherever possible. The extent to which that is achieved will determine the amount of extra work in the Home Office.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many visitors arrived at Heathrow terminal 3 on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 October; and how many arrived in October 1985;
(2) how many visitors to the United Kingdom who arrived on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 October were obliged to wait for more than six hours before being examined by the Immigration Service; and how many who arrived on the corresponding dates in October 1985 were so obliged.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI shall reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh arrived in the United Kingdom on 15 and 16 October (a) in possession of visas, (b) in possession of a visa exemption stamp and (c) without a visa or visa exemption stamp.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThis information is not available.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what suggestions his Department has received to improve the flow of information about visitors detained for examination by the immigration service to persons waiting for them at airports; and what response his Department has made.
§ Mr. WaddingtonSuggestions made include:
- (i) Displaying the names of persons detained on closed circuit television screens in the public areas.
- (ii) Installing extra emergency telephones in the immigration office and broadcasting the numbers over the national radio network.
- (iii) Installing extra telephones in the public arrivals concourse, at Heathrow, terminal 3, to enable persons to contact the Immigration Service direct.
- (iv) Providing the British Airports Authority information section with a list of all persons detained awaiting examination.
The very large numbers of passengers who arrived at Heathrow, terminal 3, during the period immediately preceding 15 October and were detained pending examination made the implementation of these suggestions at short notice impracticable. Terminal 3 is at present undergoing extensive rebuilding and this will provide an opportunity to consider the various suggestions received and the scope for improving information facilities.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost to public funds of accommodation and other expenses for visitors arriving in the United Kingdom on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 October and obliged to wait for examination by the Immigration Service.
§ Mr. WaddingtonIt is not possible at this stage to calculate what proportion of the costs will fall to public funds. This will not be known until all decisions have been made in respect of applications from persons who sought804W leave to enter as visitors during the period quoted. The costs of providing accommodation for persons awaiting examination or further examination by an Immigration Officer fall to the carrying companies where the final decision is to refuse leave to enter.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquiries were received by his Department to ascertain the whereabouts of visitors to the United Kingdom who arrived on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 October.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information requested is riot available.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitors to the United Kingdom who arrived on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 October were accommodated overnight pending examination by the Immigration Service, and how many were so accommodated on the corresponding dates in October 1985.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe number of passengers, including those seeking leave to enter as visitors, who were required to submit to further examination and either detained or granted temporary admission to reside at accommodation arranged by the Immigration Service for the dates in question was as follows:
Number 11 October 86 (9) 12 October 75 (7) 13 October 148 (2) 14 October 646 (9) 15 October 527 (13) 16 October 312 (4) 17 October 284 (11) The figures in brackets refer to the corresponding dates in October 1985. Some passengers were accommodated on more than one of the dates listed. Some had already been refused leave to enter.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the number of temporary visitors in 1985–86 from (a) the United States of America, (b) Canada, (c) Australia, (d) New Zealand and (e) South Africa, and in each case, the numbers who are not known to have returned to the country of origin within the time limit specified in their original admission; and if he will express the figures of each country as a percentage of the total number granted admission as visitors.
§ Mr. WaddingtonIn 1985 and the first five months of 1986 the number of passengers who were admitted as visitors was:
1985 1986 (to end of May) USA 2,627,200 580,400 Canada 417,100 111,200 Australia 281,100 89,900 New Zealand 51,000 16,700 South Africa 79,900 22,200 Recording of landings and embarkations for these, as for other nationalities, is selective and information is not available as to numbers or proportions within those totals not known to have left at the end of their permitted stay. 805W We have no reason to believe that the overwhelming majority of visitors to this country do not leave at the end of their stay.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many visitors from (a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) Bangladesh, (d) Nigeria, and (e) Ghana were the subject of intervention by right hon. or hon. Members in 1984, 1985 and the current year to date.
(2) how many visitors from (a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) Bangladesh, (d) Nigeria, and (e) Ghana were refused entry and returned to the country of origin without the involvement of a right hon. or hon. Members in 1984, 1985 and 1986 to date.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information requested is not available. It is not possible to state how many passengers refused entry were seeking entry as visitors, and no record is kept of the nationality of passengers in whose cases right hon. and hon. Members made representations against refusal of entry.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the flight numbers of the aircraft which were unable to land passengers at Heathrow airport on 14 October.
§ Mr. WaddingtonNo aircraft were unable to land passengers at Heathrow airport on 14 October. There was a delay of approximately one hour in completing the disembarkation of the passengers who arrived on flight No. BG 001 from Dhaka.
Location 13 October 14 October 15 October 16 October 17 October 18 October 19 October Customs Building Heathrow 9 9 13 0 14 4 3 Immigration Service Detention Centre, Harmondsworth 0 0 0 4 5 0 3 Immigration Service Detention Centre, Queens Building (Heathrow) 1 2 2 1 5 1 0 Immigration Service Detention Centre, Gatwick Airport 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 Her Majesty's Remand Centre, Latchmere House 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh 0 0 0 0 200 156 0 Her Majesty's Detention Centre, Blantyre House Cranbrook 0 0 0 0 59 58 43 Metropolitan Police Training Centre, Hounslow Heath 0 0 0 150 0 0 0 Gaterooms at Heathrow Airport 60 336 453 156 0 0 0 Immigration Service Control 54 25 28 0 0 0 0 Accommodation, Heathrow Airport Hotels (7 were used) 24 274 26 0 0 8 16 Erlestoke Youth Custody Centre, Lavington, Devizes 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 Her Majesty's Prison, Canterbury 0 0 0 0 0 7 7 Some passengers were accommodated for more than one night and at more than one location. Some had already been refused leave to enter.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will cause inquiries to be made as to why a sponsor of a visitor was, through error by officials of his Department, placed on an aircraft for Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI have no knowledge of any sponsor being placed on board any aircraft for Bangladesh by the Immigration Service or its agents at terminal 3, Heathrow airport.
806W
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers awaiting examination by his Department since 13 October have sought or required medical attention, and, what medical attention was offered.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information is immediately available in respect of Heathrow airport and for arrivals since 10 October. 108 passengers who arrived at Heathrow airport since 10 October have sought or required medical attention, either during the period they were waiting examination by the Immigration Service or in some cases after refusal of leave to enter. All were examined by a qualified medical practitioner. At terminal 1, one passenger was diagnosed as suffering from malaria and was taken to hospital. At terminal 3, three passengers were referred to hospitals for further examination, of whom one is still in hospital receiving treatment for dysentry. Another passenger was diagnosed as suffering from non-infective hepatitis and is receiving appropriate treatment.
All other passengers who were medically examined were diagnosed as suffering from minor ailments such as headaches and stomach upsets for which appropriate treatment was administered.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the locations which have been used by his Department since 13 October to accommodate passengers awaiting examination, with, in each case, the numbers so accommodated on each night.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information is as follows: