HC Deb 18 December 1990 vol 183 cc119-20W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by how many the number of entry clearance officers at the post in Bangladesh has been reduced in the past year, to date; what further plans there are to reduce the number of entry clearance officers; what effect the reductions in staff will have in applicant waiting times; and if lie will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

During 1990 the post at Dhaka has been reduced by five entry clearance officers of whom four were redeployed to other Indian sub-continent posts where queues were longer. Staffing levels are kept under continual review. The staff savings were achieved through increased productivity which had reduced applicant waiting times. These are now expected to remain roughly constant at the following levels:

Queue Months
1 2
2 3
3 3
4 9

Settlement queues are organised as follows:

(Q1) 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 others applying for first time settlement.

(Q4) Re-applicants.