§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications from overseas students seeking extensions to their leave to remain in the United Kingdom were outstanding at the latest convenient date; and what was the comparable figure for each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe estimated number of student applications outstanding in July this year was 14,000. Comparable figures for the previous five years are not available.
§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances overseas students are currently being granted extensions to their leave to remain in the United Kingdom despite their applications being submitted out of time.
§ Mr. Peter LloydAny application from an overseas student who has overstayed his or her last leave to remain is considered on its individual merits, taking account, for example, of the time since leave expired and the reasons for overstaying.
§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what relaxations in immigration procedures have recently been introduced to reduce the backlog of applications from overseas students seeking extensions to their leave to remain in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter LloydAn exercise was mounted recently to clear applications from students where most of the period of leave applied for had already passed. It did not involve any relaxation of the immigration rules. In addition improved working procedures have been introduced to reduce the time taken to process after-entry cases, including applications from overseas students.