§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for a work permit to employ a non-EC national were received in April 1993; what proportion of these applications were decided within eight weeks; and what proportion of applications on behalf of entertainers, sports people and models were decided within four weeks.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythFour thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine applications for work permits were received in April 1993. Of the 2,850 cases processed in the month, 91.9 per cent. had been decided within eight weeks of receipt.
One thousand, four hundred and eleven of the total applications decided in April 1993 were for entertainers, sports people and models. Fifty-seven per cent. of these cases were decided within four weeks and 92 per cent. within eight weeks of receipt.
This exceeds the Department's published standard of 75 per cent. within eight weeks and was achieved at a time when the section responsible for work permits was in the process of moving between sites in Sheffield.