§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department(a) what is the average time currently being taken to process a travel document, (b) how this compares with the target figure in the citizens charter, (c) how many cases have exceeded this target in the last 12 months and (d) what percentage of applications this represents.
§ Mr. Charles WardleAt present, applications for Home Office travel documents made by people accepted as refugees under the terms of the 1951 United Nations convention are taking up to eight weeks to be considered, and other applications about six months. These periods may be exceeded in cases which necessitate further inquiries or which raise other immigration issues. There is no target for this work in the citizens charter. Action is now in hand to process new applications more quickly and tackle the backlog.
§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants are currently awaiting the processing of travel documents; and what was the application date of the earliest dated application.
§ Mr. Charles WardleAt the end of December 1993, there were 5,099 cases outstanding in the travel document section of the immigration and nationality department. The oldest unactioned travel document application from a person accepted as a refugee was made on 18 November 1993, and from a non-refugee on 14 July 1993.