§ Mr. FranksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the entry clearance officer's statement of refusal of entry was completed and the clearance officer's statement was forwarded to (i) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London, and (ii) the immigration appeals office, London, in respect of Juliet C. Melville, née Crave, who applied for entry clearance in October 1989 at the British embassy in Manila, Philippines.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe entry clearance officer's explanatory statement accompanying Mrs. Melville's appeal, which had been lodged at the embassy in Manila in September 1989, was sent direct to the immigration appeals office on 5 March 1990.
The delay in processing this appeal was due to disruption to the work of the embassy in November 1989 (move to new premises) and December 1989 (attempted coup), and increased demands on secretarial resources. The post in Manila has now taken on extra staff to help reduce the delay in processing appeals.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision will be taken on the application to enter the United Kingdom made to the United Kingdom's post in Islamabad by Abdul Hamid, who was born on 14 February 1964 (Serial Number: 64050); and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyIn accordance with the guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members on 14 December 1988, I have referred the question to the correspondence unit of the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive a reply from the unit as soon as possible.