§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made for entry visas in India in each year since 1979; and how many were granted in each year to the latest date.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information requested is given in the following table:
Applications in India for entry clearance to the United Kingdom1 Number of persons Applications received2 Applications granted 1979 24,510 20,180 1980 18,110 17,010 1981 14,640 13,910 1982 11,320 9,810 1983 11,100 8,650 1984 9,870 8,000 1985 8,020 6,440 1986 29,500 26,230 1 For settlement or temporary purposes 2 Including applications which were subsequently withdrawn
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants were employed in his Department dealing with visa applications from (a) Commonwealth and (b) non-Commonwealth countries in each year since 1979 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. WaddingtonMany staff in the Immigration and Nationality Department carry out interviews and deal 359W with inquiries relating to applications for visas and other forms of entry clearance as part of their general duties, but their numbers cannot readily be assessed. Since Autumn 1986, four members of staff of the Immigration and Nationality Department have been engaged on the issue of re-entry visas. In addition staff of the passport department have been engaged on the issue of re-entry visas as follows:
1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 17 21 22 Figures for earlier years are not available; and it is not possible to differentiate between Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth work.