§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is undertaking to obtain a dependable estimate of the number of(a) spouses and (b) children who are currently awaiting entry clearance other than in the Indian sub-continent.
§ Mr. Peter LloydNone is planned. The collection of data on persons outside the Indian sub-continent applying for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom was terminated at the end of 1979 because it was considered that its usefulness did not justify the resources required to undertake it. Information continues to be collected on persons applying in the sub-continent because of the large number of applications there. Some information on applications for entry clearance by persons in Hong Kong has been collected since the end of 1984; this information includes the numbers of spouses and children awaiting first interview but not the total numbers awaiting a decision on their application.