HC Deb 21 January 1987 vol 108 cc559-60W
Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current monthly rate of representations by hon. Members in immigration cases; and how it compares with the rate prior to the introduction of his March 1986 guidelines.

Mr. Waddington

The following table gives the number of immigration files created each month since October 1985 as a result of representations made on immigration matters by right hon. and hon. Members.

Numbers
1985
October 1,782
November 1,552
December 1,044
1986
January 1,403
February 1,434
March 1,355
April 1,318
May 1,202
June 1,728
July 1,279
August 1,255
September 1,745
October 1,822
November 1,568
December 1,402

Notes:

1. These figures include a number of letters dealing with general issues rather than individual cases.

2. Representations made on behalf of a single family may be counted as more than one case where the immigration circumstances of more than one member of the family are under consideration.

3. Further representations made after reply has been sent are included separately in these figures.

4. Representations received about the same case from more than one right hon. Member or hon. Member are counted separately.

5. These figures include representations on after entry cases as well as those arising from port refusals where stops on removal were followed by written representations.

6. The figures relate to the months in which the representations were received. Those for November and December 1986 include substantial numbers of representations on behalf of passengers who were granted temporary admission in October and who were subsequently refused leave to enter after they had been further interviewed by immigration officers.

7. The guidelines to which my hon. and learned Friend refers were introduced on 1 May 1986.