§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for visitors' visas, were refused in the United Kingdom posts in(a) Bombay, (b) New Dehli, (c) Dacca, (d) Islamabad and (e) Calcutta in (i) 1985, (ii) 1986, (iii) 1987 and (iv) since 1 January, respectively.
§ Mr. Renton[holding answer 18 April]The information requested for 1985–87 is given in the following table; the corresponding information for the first quarter of 1988 is not yet available. Since 15 October 1986, citizens of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan wishing to visit the United Kingdom have been required to obtain a visa before setting out. Before that date, the examination of a passenger's eligibility for entry normally took place on arrival at a United Kingdom port although it was open to a visitor to apply for an optional entry clearance at a post overseas. The increase in refusals of visit entry clearances at posts in the Indian sub-continent since October 1986 has therefore been accompanied by a fall of results at the ports. Congestion at the ports has been substantially reduced, as I explained in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler) on 29 March, column 387.
Persons refused a visit entry clearance Post 1985 1986 1987 January to September October to December Bombay 50 30 100 1,100 New Dehli 80 90 360 3,620 Calcutta 1— 10 1— 90 Dhaka 560 350 600 1,670 Islamabad 40 20 440 5,230 1 Five or fewer