HC Deb 19 January 1988 vol 125 cc651-2W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the procedure for dealing with and recording incoming mail at Lunar house; and at what stage applications for British citizenship are separated from applications for variation of immigration leave.

Mr. Renton

On receipt at Lunar house the IND post room separates the mail by appearance and form of address into broad categories of general letters, applications for variation of leave, and applications for citizenship. Mail sent by recorded delivery or registered post is recorded on receipt; other mail is recorded when opened and separated into categories.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff, of what grade and at what salary, were employed at Lunar house to deal with incoming mail on(a) 1 June 1987 and (b) 1 December 1987; how many extra staff were employed for this purpose between 1 June and 31 December 1987; on which date and at what grades.

Mr. Renton

Separate information about staff in the immigration nationality department post room dealing with incoming mail is not readily available. The number, grading and salaries of staff involved in all aspects of mail handling was:

Number Salary Range £
1 June 1987
Executive Officer 1 5,550–9,854
Administrative Officer 3 3,664–7,091
Administrative Assistant 31 3,314–5,799
Senior Paperkeeper 1 5,747–6,590
Paperkeeper 5 5,832–6,141
Total 41

Number Salary Range £
1 December 1987
Executive Officer 1 5,820–10,100
Administrative Officer 3 3,664–7,247
Adminstrative Assistant 42 No change
Senior Paperkeeper 1 6,047–6,890
Paperkeeper 5 No change
Total 52

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of letters which had been received but not opened at Lunar house on(a) 1 November 1987, (b) 1 December 1987 and (c) 21 December 1987; what is his estimate of how many such letters are applications for variation of leave; what was the date of receipt of mail being dealt with at Lunar house on 21 December 1987; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton

The estimated number unopened items of mail is as follows. The estimated number of such letters which relate to applications for variations of leave is shown in brackets.

  • 1 November 1987: 65,500 (16,000)
  • 1 December 1987: 92,500 (24,000)
  • 21 December 1987: 145,000 (30,500)

The date of receipt of mail being dealt with on 21 December by the immigration and nationality department post room varied, according to the nature of the correspondence, between the end of September and early December.