§ Sir John WheelerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make changes in the immigration rules.
§ Mr. Peter LloydMy right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has reviewed the immigration arrangements currently in force in relation to Iraqi nationals in the light of the outbreak of hostilities in the Gulf. He has concluded that it is now necessary to suspend the normal immigration facilities for Iraqis wishing to come to the United Kingdom or to extend their stay, and to extend the requirement on Iraqis remaining here to register with the police. The following changes took effect on Saturday, 19 January.
A "Statement of Changes in the Immigration Rules" was laid before Parliament on 18 January and this will provide for applications by Iraqi nationals for visas, for leave to enter, whether or not a visa has previously been issued, or for extensions of stay to be refused. Discretion exists to grant applications outside the immigration rules, but this will be exercised only sparingly in compassionate circumstances where we are satisfied that no threat to national security is involved.
The concession under which Iraqi nationals are permitted to pass through the United Kingdom as airside transit passengers without a visa is being withdrawn.
My right hon. Friend has made an order requiring all Iraqi nationals who are in the United Kingdom on limited leave to register with the police if they are not already subject to such a requirement.
These measures will not affect Iraqi nationals who possess British citizenship or who are nationals of European Community member states exercising treaty rights in the United Kingdom.