Overseas Students (Hansard, 20 June 1989)

§ Mr. Darling
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received with regard to allowing female overseas students to be joined by their husbands for the duration of their studies in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Renton
Two representations have been received recently on this subject: replies have been sent to both.
Although the rules make no formal provision for husbands to accompany or join their wives who are studying in the United Kingdom, entry clearance may be granted for this purpose where there are compassionate circumstances. We have considered whether the rules ought to go further, but have concluded that they should 65W not. One of the basic purposes of immigration control is to restrict the numbers coming to live or take employment in this country. Changing the rules so that they allowed female students to be accompanied by their husbands would represent a considerable relaxation in the control, which could result in substantial additional numbers coming to work in the United Kingdom.

Representations of wrongful conviction and consequent references to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968

Period Number of representations considered Number of cases referred to the Court of Appeal Appeals allowed by the Court of Appeal Appeals dismissed by the Court of Appeal

1 October 1984 to 30 September 1985 770 2 1 1

1 October 1985 to 30 September 1986 773 4 1 3

1 October 1986 to 30 September 1987 784 6 3 3

1 October 1987 to 31 March 1988 274 ²3 — 2

1 April 1988¹ to 31 March 1989 536 ³2 1 —

¹ The method of collecting statistics was revised in April 1988.

² One case awaiting determination at 31 March 1989.

³ One case awaiting determination at 31 March 1989

In other cases free pardons were granted and relevant figures are given in a reply today to another question from the hon. Member.
In the other cases considered it was decided that there were no grounds in the information available for intervention in the conviction.

§ Mr. Mullin
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal convictions, disregarding motoring offences, were quashed by him without reference to the Court of Appeal for each year since 1980.

§ Mr. John Patten
My right hon. Friend has no power to quash a conviction. In addition to his powers under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 to refer a case to the Court of Appeal, he may, in exceptional circumstances, recommend to Her Majesty the Queen that a free pardon should be granted. This course is normally followed in respect of summary convictions where there is no power to refer the case back to the courts for their consideration.
The following free pardons have been granted in the years 1980–88 (excluding motoring offences):

Number

1980 15

1981 14

1982 10

1983 11

1984 16

1985 6

1986 7

1987 13

1988 9

Representations of wrongful conviction and consequent references to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968
Period	Number of representations considered	Number of cases referred to the Court of Appeal	Appeals allowed by the Court of Appeal	Appeals dismissed by the Court of Appeal
1 October 1984 to 30 September 1985	770	2	1	1
1 October 1985 to 30 September 1986	773	4	1	3
1 October 1986 to 30 September 1987	784	6	3	3
1 October 1987 to 31 March 1988	274	²3	—	2
1 April 1988¹ to 31 March 1989	536	³2	1	—
¹ The method of collecting statistics was revised in April 1988.
² One case awaiting determination at 31 March 1989.
³ One case awaiting determination at 31 March 1989