§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of personnel employed by the British high commission in India dealing with visa applications in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. EggarThe establishment of entry clearance officers (and above) dealing with applications at each of our posts in India on 1 January of each year was as follows:
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New Delhi Bombay Calcutta Madras 1979 5 4 1 1 1980 5 4 1 11 1981 5 6 1 0 1982 5 5 1 0 1983 6 6 1 0 1984 6 6 1 0 1985 6 6 1 0 1986 6 6 1 0 1987 11 10 2 12 1 Immigration work transferred to Bombay March 1980 but resumed in Madras in October 1986 with the introduction of the visa regime.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average waiting time for applications from citizens of India for entry visas to the United Kingdom at the latest date.
§ Mr. EggarFigures published for the last quarter of 1986 show that the waiting time for settlement entry clearance applicants was between two and 11 months in New Delhi and between four and 12 months in Bombay. There are no settlement queues in Madras and Calcutta.
All applications for short-term entry clearance are considered within 24 hours. Of the estimated 13 per cent. needing further examination, the waiting time for those now applying in April is 10 days in New Delhi, one day in Bombay and three in Madras.