§ 26. Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the percentage of fiancées and spouses refused entry clearance under the primary purpose rule for the last two years.
§ Mr. RentonThe information requested is available only for entry clearance applications in the Indian subcontinent. In 1985 no wife or female fiancée in the subcontinent was refused solely or partly because of the primary purpose rule; in 1986 the proportions were negligible for wives and about 10 per cent for female fiancées. The proportion of husbands so refused was 25 per cent. in 1985 and 35 per cent. in 1986. The corresponding proportions for male fiancés were 45 per cent. in 1985 and 50 per cent. in 1986. These proportions take account of the outcome of appeals.