§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department why the application for an entry clearance visa by Mr. Umar Iqbal to join his wife Shabnim Sattar in Ilford has been refused; and why the appeal will not be heard until March 1993.
Mr. John M. TaylorI understand that the application was refused on the grounds that the ECO was not satisfied that (1) the marriage had not been entered into primarily to obtain admission to the United Kingdom and (2) on the evidence available, adequate arrangements for maintenance and accommodation, as required under the Immigration Rules, was available without recourse to public funds. Umar Iqbal's appeal against this decision was received on 30 December 1990.
The first hearing of the appeal was held on 8 July 1991. The case was adjourned for two months to enable the appellant to arrange legal representation. At a second hearing in September the appellant's representative requested an adjournment.
At a hearing on 20 December 1991 the representative requested a further adjournment to obtain additional documentary evidence. The case was heard again on 22 June 1992 but adjourned to enable the Home Office to consider if there were now grounds to grant Mr. Iqbal an entry clearance. The Home Office have since told the appellant's representative that they do not intend to rely on the primary purpose ground for refusal but that maintenance and accommodation remain issues.
The case was listed for 25 March 1993 the next available date at the time but it may be possible to bring the hearing forward if the appellant so requests and an earlier date becomes available.
§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when his Department will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Ilford, South of 5 October, concerning Shabnim Sattar and her husband Mr. Umar Iqbal.