HC Deb 20 December 1988 vol 144 cc145-6W
Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the present waiting times to first interview for all categories of applicant in each country in the Indian subcontinent.

Mr. Eggar

Settlement queues are organised as followsQI Persons with a claim to the right of abode; dependent relatives over 70 years; special compassionate cases. Q2 All spouses; all children under 18 years. Q3 Fiance(e)s and other first time applicants for settlement. Q4 Re-applicants.

As at 31 October 1988 the waiting times for first interview at posts in the Indian sub-continent were:

Queue Waiting times (months)
actual estimated
New Delhi
1 0 0
2 4 3
3 6.5 5
4 11 9
Bombay
1 2 2
2 6 6
3 9 9
4 10 10
Dhaka
1 3 3
2 7 7
3 7 7
4 23 23
Islamabad
1 4 3.5
2 11 12
3 20 18
4 20 29
Karachi
1 2 1
2 5 3
3 10 7
4 13 13
Note:There are no waiting times at Calcutta or Madras.

Actual waiting time is the time an applicant interviewed at the end of October had waited. Estimated time is the time an applicant applying at the end of October can expect to wait for interview.