HC Deb 18 July 1989 vol 157 cc118-9W
Mrs. Wise

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many husbands are awaiting interview for entry clearance in Islamabad; and what is the longest waiting time of those presently in the queue.

Mr. Eggar

As at 31 May, 1,400 husbands were awaiting interview in Islamabad either as first-time applicants or re-applicants. On present estimates, first-time applicants who applied in May can expect to wait 10 months for interview, re-applicants 22 months.

Mrs. Wise

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average waiting time for interview in Islamabad, for entry clearance to the United Kingdom as(a) a husband, (b) a fiancé, (c) a wife and (d) a fiancée.

Mr. Eggar

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 17 July.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state for each immigration post abroad(a) the current average time and (b) the current longest outstanding case time, for an appeal against refusal to enter and stay in the United Kingdom from (i) the appeal being submitted and (ii) the date of the hearing being notified to the appellant, to the appeal hearing taking place.

Mr. Eggar

Neither the immigration appellate authorities nor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office records information of this nature for each immigration post overseas. The length of time taken for an appeal to be listed for hearing varies, depending on a number of factors including the time taken by the parties to indicate their readiness to proceed. Once parties have so indicated, cases are set down for hearing between six to eight weeks in advance, unless either party requests an adjournment. The great majority of appeals received overseas are forwarded to the appellate authorities, with the accompanying explanatory statement, well within 90 days which we regard as an acceptable time scale for the preparation and despatch of explanatory statements. Individual cases may, however, take longer to process depending on what further inquiries the entry clearance officer needs to make in the light of the grounds for appeal.