HC Deb 19 July 1994 vol 247 cc154-72W
Mr. Marlow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the effects of recent European Union visa proposals on controls on third-country nationals seeking to enter the United Kingdom.

Mr. Charles Wardle

On 13 July, the Commission outlined in a press statement proposals relating to a uniform format for visas, for which there is provision in article 100c of the treaty of Rome. The Commission has yet to publish its proposals. When it does so, they will be made available to Parliament in accordance with the normal scrutiny requirements.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance from(a) wives, (b) husbands, (c) fiancés and (d) fiancées made at British posts in (1) New Delhi, (2) Bombay, (3) Calcutta, (4) Madras, (5) Dhaka, (6) Islamabad, (7) Karachi and (8) Colombo for each quarter since January 1993 were (m) received, (n) granted and (o) refused; how many refusals at each post were (i) wholly and (ii) partly because the visa officer was not satisfied that the primary purpose of the marriage was not immigration; how many refusals at each post were (i) wholly and (ii) partly because the visa officer was not satisfied that the couple could support and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds; what was the refusal rate at each post; and what percentage of those refusals were (x) wholly and (y) partly on primary purpose grounds.

Table1
Spouses and fiancé(e)s in the Indian sub-continent applying for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom 1993 and first quarter 1994
Number of persons and percentage
1993 1994
Ql Q2 Q3 Q4 Year Ql
Husbands
New Delhi (including Calcutta)
Applications received1 70 70 70 80 280 90
Applications granted2 60 50 50 60 210 60
Applications refused initially 30 20 40 40 120 50
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 32 n/a
Bombay (including Madras)
Applications received1 100 100 70 60 340 100
Applications granted2 70 70 70 70 280 70
Applications refused initially 30 50 40 40 160 50
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 27 n/a
Dhaka
Applications received1 320 260 230 260 1,060 270
Applications granted2 310 210 180 260 960 230
Applications refused initially 80 50 60 120 310 130
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 22 n/a
Islamabad (including Karachi)
Applications received1 770 660 610 600 2,640 750
Applications granted2 660 480 470 380 1,990 440
Applications refused initially 550 470 460 410 1,900 310
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 43 n/a
Wives
New Delhi (including Calcutta)
Applications received1 260 240 190 180 880 320
Applications granted2 160 150 200 220 720 220
Applications refused initially 40 30 60 50 180 60
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 19 n/a
Bombay (including Madras)
Applications received1 380 270 200 210 1,060 330
Applications granted2 130 280 280 180 940 240
Applications refused initially 20 30 30 40 120 50
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 9 n/a
Dhaka
Applications received1 420 360 310 290 1,380 330
Applications granted2 290 190 240 460 1,180 300
Applications refused initially 60 50 40 40 190 40
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 13 n/a
Islamabad (including Karachi)
Applications received1 880 760 770 290 3,020 910
Applications granted2 780 610 600 460 2,390 600
Applications refused initially 160 130 180 40 620 70
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 18 n/a
1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.
2 Granted initially or on appeal.
3 Applications refused initially, minus applications granted on appeal, as a percentage of applications decided.
4 Five or fewer; — nil; n/a not applicable.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Information for the Indian sub-continent for each quarter of 1993 and for the first quarter of 1994 is given in the tables. Where the numbers are small, figures for individual posts have been combined. Information on reasons for refusals is not compiled for periods shorter than 12 months. Corresponding informa-tion for Colombo is not available centrally.

Number of persons and percentage
1993 1994
Ql Q2 Q3 Q4 Year Ql
Male fiancés
New Delhi (including Calcutta)
Applications received1 30 30 20 30 110 30
Applications granted2 20 4 10 10 30 10
Applications refused initially 30 20 20 20 100 40
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 74 n/a
Bombay (including Madras)
Applications received1 30 30 10 20 90 40
Applications granted2 20 20 20 30 90 20
Applications refused initially 30 30 20 20 100 20
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 36 n/a
Dhaka
Applications received1 4 4 4 10 10
Applications granted2 4 4 4 4
Applications refused initially 4 4 4 4 10 4
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 73 n/a
Islamabad (including Karachi)
Applications received1 40 40 40 30 140 30
Applications granted2 30 30 20 20 100 20
Applications refused initially 30 30 40 20 120 20
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 47 n/a
Female fiancées
New Delhi (including Calcutta)
Applications received1 40 40 40 30 140 40
Applications granted2 30 10 20 20 80 30
Applications refused initially 20 10 10 10 50 20
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 37 n/a
Bombay (including Madras)
Applications received1 40 30 30 30 120 40
Applications granted2 20 30 30 30 110 20
Applications refused initially 4 4 10 10 30 10
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 14 n/a
Dhaka
Applications received1 4 10 10 4 20 4
Applications granted2 4 4 4 4 10 4
Applications refused initially 4 4 4
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 18 n/a
Islamabad (including Karachi)
Applications received1 50 40 60 60 200 30
Applications granted2 30 40 30 30 120 20
Applications refused initially 10 4 10 10 30 10
Refusal rate (percentage)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 15 n/a
1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.
2 Granted initially or on appeal
3 Applications refused initially, minus applications granted on appeal, as a percentage of applications decided.
4 Five or fewer; — nil; n/a not applicable.
Table 2
Spouses and fiancé(e)s in the Indian sub-continent refused entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom, 1993
Number of persons and percentages
Number refused because couple could not accommodate/ maintain themselves without recourse to public funds Number refused because pri-mary purpose of marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom Primary purpose refusals as a percentage of all refusals
Solely for these reasons Partly for these reasons Solely for these reasons Partly for these reasons Solely on primary purpose grounds Partly on primary purpose grounds
New Delhi (include Calcutta)
Husbands 10 20 60 20 50 15
Wives 10 40 90 40 47 22
Male fiancés 2 3 70 3 74 4
Female fiancées 2 3 40 10 67 16
Bombay (including Calcutta)
Husbands 2 20 60 20 36 15
Number refused because couple could not accommodate/ maintain themselves without recourse to public funds Number refused because pri-mary purpose of marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom Primary purpose refusals as a percentage of all refusals
Solely for these reasons Partly for these reasons Solely for these reasons Partly for these reasons Solely on primary purpose grounds Partly on primary purpose grounds
Wives 20 20 40 20 31 15
Male fiancés 3 3 60 3 57 14
Female fiancées 3 3 10 3 38 19
Dhaka
Husbands 110 80 110 50 36 16
Wives 110 30 10 10 4 4
Male fiancés 2 3 10 3 182 118
Female fiancées 2 3 3 3 150 150
Islamabad (including Karachi)
Husbands 320 880 560 880 30 46
Wives 370 80 40 60 7 10
Male fiancés 10 50 40 50 35 46
Female fiancées 10 10 3 10 7 29
Total Indian sub-continent
Husbands 440 1,000 800 970 32 39
Wives 510 170 180 130 16 12
Male fiancés 10 50 180 60 55 17
Female fiancées 10 20 50 20 45 20
1 Percentages based on fewer than 15 applications refused
2 Nil
3 Five or fewer.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for registration as British citizens of children born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983 have been(a) received, (b) granted or (c) refused since 1 January 1993.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Some 2,063 children born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983 have been registered as British citizens since 1 January 1993. The numbers of such applications received and refused are not available.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for(a) adult registration with entitlement, (b) naturalisation on grounds of residence, (c) naturalisation on grounds of marriage and (d) registration of minors his Department estimates it (i) will receive and (ii) expects to grant in 1994–95.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The latest estimate of the numbers of citizenship applications likely to be received and granted in 1994–95 is as follows:

Passenger admissions1 and persons refused leave to enter and removed, for selected nationalities in 1993
Nationality 1st quarter 1993 2nd quarter 1993 3rd quarter 1993 4th quarter 1993 Year 1993
Admissions Refused and removed Admissions Refused and removed Admissions Refused and removed Admissions Refused and removed Admissions Refused and removed
Jamaica 5,490 114 6,610 119 9,600 98 5,330 157 27,000 488
Turkey 20,800 59 19,700 59 33,200 50 23,100 65 96,800 233
Morocco 3,720 9 4,600 18 6,660 27 3,860 21 18,800 75
USA 515,000 227 793,000 245 930,000 257 627,000 257 2,870,000 986
Australia 78,400 58 141,000 72 161,000 53 114,000 60 494,000 243
Malaysia 17,200 58 29,000 110 37,700 106 26,200 80 110,000 354
Hong Kong2 17,800 20 23,100 27 36,000 34 13,700 9 90,600 90
Guyana 1,090 18 1,590 20 2,310 23 1,250 16 6,230 77
Trinidad and Tobago 3,140 16 4,150 19 7,090 17 3,570 17 18,000 69
Colombia 4,180 74 5,800 72 6,620 106 5,320 104 21,900 356
Algeria 3,050 43 3,560 48 5,890 60 3,590 60 16,100 211
Intake Applications granted
Adult registration 4,200 5,100
Naturalisation (residence) 17,000 12,750
Naturalisation (marriage) 14,200 12,950
Minor registrations 4,600 9,100
Total 40,000 39,900

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of(a) Jamaica, (b) Turkey, (c) Morocco, (d) the United States of America, (e) Australia, (f) Malaysia, (g) Hong Kong, (h) Guyana, (i) Trinidad, (j) Colombia and (k) Algeria were (i) granted and (ii) refused permission to enter the United Kingdom at ports of entry in each quarter since January 1993, and in total, to the nearest available date.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The information requested for 1993 is given in the table; corresponding data for quarters of 1994 are not yet available.

1 Rounded figures, numbers of journeys.

2 Excluding Hong Kong stateless persons.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for settlement by wives and children in (i) Dhaka and (ii) Islamabad were(a)

Applications for entry clearance for settlement made by wives and children in Dhaka and Islamabad, 1993 to 1994
1993 1994
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year Q1
Applications newly received1
Dhaka 720 660 580 550 2,510 580
Islamabad 1,020 870 960 760 3,620 1,040
Applications granted2
Dhaka 540 410 440 610 2,000 490
Islamabad 850 730 690 430 2,700 620
Applications refused initially
Dhaka 270 200 130 110 710 200
Islamabad 200 170 240 200 810 100
Aplication withdrown or lapsed
Dhaka 20 3 20 20 60 60
Islamabad 80 40 80 50 250 40
Applications outstanding at end of period
Dhaka 2,340 2,410 2,410 2,240 2,240 2,090
Islamabad 1,990 1,980 2,020 2,170 2,170 2,510
Applications awaiting first interview at end of period
Dhaka 980 1,450 1,720 1,670 1,670 1,700
Islamabad 760 890 890 1,060 1,060 1,010
1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.
2 Granted initially or on appeal.
3 Five or fewer.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers arriving at United Kingdom ports of entry during 1993 and the first quarter of 1994 were referred to port medical inspectors for examination; what are the most common diagnoses made; and how many people have been(a) refused entry (i) wholly or (ii) partly on medical grounds and for what medical reason or (b) required to report for further medical treatment after entry and for what medical reason.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Two passengers were refused entry principally on medical grounds in 1993. Corresponding information for the first quarter of 1994 is not yet available. The other information requested is not available centrally.

1993 1994
1st quarter 2nd quarter 3rd quarter 4th quarter Year 1st quarter 2nd quarter
Persons subject to deportation action:
Supervised departures 363 287 300 268 1,218 244 191
Departed voluntarily 37 46 37 76 196 25 21
Illegal entrants:
Departed voluntarily 68 85 114 117 384 85 80

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) husbands, (b) wives and (c) dependent children have been refused (i) extension of stay and (ii) settlement in the United Kingdom on the grounds received, (b) granted, (c) refused, (d) deferred at first interview, (e) lapsed and (f) outstanding and awaiting first interview for each quarter since the beginning of 1993.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The available information is given in the table.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers applied to the Home Office to be allowed to depart voluntarily under(a) the supervised departure provisions and (b) the voluntary departure provisions of the immigration rules in each quarter since January 1993.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The readily available informa-tion relates to persons subject to deportation action who were removed under the supervised departure procedures, or left voluntarily, and persons dealt with as illegal entrants who left voluntarily. This information is given in the table. Most of these persons will have been detained prior to departure. A number will have been subject to restrictions as an alternative to detention, but such cases could be separately identified only at disproportionate cost.

that the Secretary of State is not satisfied that they can be maintained and accommodated without recourse to public funds, in each quarter since January 1993, and in total.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The available information relating to after entry cases is given in the table. Information on dependent children is not readily available.

Refusals1 on grounds of maintenance and accommodation, of after-entry applications by husbands and wives (numbers of persons)
Refusals to grant probationary year on grounds of:
Accomodation Maintenance Maintenance and accommodation Refusals of settlement after probationary year2
1993
Quarter 1
Husbands 1 14
Wives 1 17
Quarter 2
Husbands 2 8
Wives 1 3 1 13
Quarter 3
Husbands 5
Wives 1 1 6
Quarter 4
Husbands 1 3 6
Wives 2 6
1994
Quarter 1
Husbands 12
Wives 2 2
1 Excluding dependents.
2 Refusals of settlement after probationary year on general considerations, including recourse to public funds.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many appeals under the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 where cases have been dismissed but with a recommendation to the Home Office to reconsider the Home Office has(a) followed and (b) not followed the recommendation.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The information requested is not separately identifiable in the statistics.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, by country, were granted

Cases12 not recognised as refugees but granted exceptional leave, excluding dependants, by nationality, 1992 to 1994 (2nd quarter)
Number of grants to principal applicants
1992 1993 1994
Nationality 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr
Europe and Americas
Bulgaria * *
Colombia * 5 * * * * * * 5
Romania 5 * 5
Turkey 80 40 445 970 560 235 40 20 30 5
Former USSR * * * * 5
Former Yugoslavia * * 5 45 220 385
Others * * 5 * 5 * * *
Total 90 45 455 970 565 240 55 65 255 400
Africa
Angola * 5 * *
Benin
Cameroon
Congo 5
Ethiopia 30 425 855 900 1,465 75 25 10 10 20
Ghana 5 5 10 5 * 5 * 20
Nigeria3 n/a n/a n/a n/a * 5 5 * 5
Sierra Leone3 n/a n/a n/a n/a * * 5
Somalia 470 505 720 510 1,200 1,280 265 330 320 305
Sudan 5 5 25 80 215 425 15 5 5 5
Togo and Ivory Coast * * *
Uganda 5 5 175 975 805 295 15 5 10 5
Zaire * * * 5 5 5 * 5 *

exceptional leave to enter or to remain in each month of 1992,1993 and 1994 to the latest convenient date; and how many of these were granted such leave because of (a) the situation in the country from which they claimed asylum or (b) the length of time the Home Office had taken to decide on their case.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Information for 1992 to end June 1994, by quarter, on the number of grants of exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom, by nationality, is given in the table. Information on the reasons for which exceptional leave to remain is granted is not readily available.

1992 1993 1994
Nationality 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr
Others 5 5 25 50 175 120 30 25 20 20
Total 520 960 1,810 2,530 3,865 2,205 365 390 370 380
Middle East
Iran 50 15 280 260 65 55 5 5 5 5
Iraq 60 40 455 655 145 95 45 20 50 85
Lebanon 25 5 70 505 185 70 15 5 5 5
Others 20 5 30 70 55 30 10 5 15 10
Total 150 70 835 1,495 455 245 70 30 75 100
Asia
China 5 * * 10 5 * * * *
India 185 85 125 65 20 5 5 * 5 20
Pakistan 180 80 90 50 25 5 5 * 5 10
Sri Lanka 270 460 2,060 1,475 2,285 80 30 25 20 25
Others 100 50 65 30 65 10 5 5 * 5
Total 740 680 2,345 1,630 2,395 105 45 35 35 65
Other, and nationality not known
Grand Total
Grand Total 1,500 1,755 5,445 6,625 7,285 2,790 530 520 730 950
1 Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome appeals or other subsequent decisions.
2 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.
3 Figures for 1992 not separately identified = n/a. Included in Others.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the(a) passengers in total and (b) persons treated as illegal entrants who were granted temporary admission/release in 1993 subsequently absconded; and how many (i) later reported voluntarily to the immigration authorities and (ii) were rearrested.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The available information relates to the number of persons who absconded, either from detention or by failing to respond to the terms of temporary admission/release, and is given in the table. The other information requested is not available.

Absconders in 1993
Category of person Number of persons
Passengers1 667
Illegal entrants 218
DNA tests on children under the Government scheme, results received and outcomes 1993 to Ql 1994
Number of children
Country/post where application made Number of tests carried out Tests offered but not taken Number awaiting results received Number of results received Related as claimed to both parents Outcomes Related as claimed to one parent but not other Not related as claimed to either parent
1993
Indian sub-continent1 2 1,306 20 616 1,214 1,050 60 89
Bangladesh (Dhaka)2 793 5 361 824 712 32 65
Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi) 409 12 242 350 300 27 23
India (Bombay, New Delhi) 104 3 13 40 38 1 1
Outside of Indian sub-continent3 138 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) 23 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Ghana (Accra) 25 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Jamaica (Kingston) 6 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Kenya (Nairobi) 11 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Nigeria (Lagos) 43 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Philippines (Manila) 8 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Turkey (Istanbul) 1 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Thailand (Bangkok) 5 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Uganda (Kampala) 6 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Yemen (Sana'a) 11 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a

1 May include some abconders recorded as "illegal entrants".

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA tests to prove family relationships for immigration purposes have been carried out under the Home Office-funded scheme during(a) 1993 and (b) the first quarter of 1994, listed by country of origin; what was the average waiting period for the test and for its results: and in how many of those tests the family relationships were proved to be as claimed by the applicants.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The available information is given in the table.

The average waiting time from the taking of a blood sample to a decision being made on DNA tests is six to eight weeks.

Country/post where application made Number of tests carried out Test offered but not taken Number awaiting results at end of period Number of results received Related as claimed to both parents Outcomes Related as claimed to one parent but not other Not related as claimed to either parent
Q1 1994
Indian sub-continent4 5
Bangladesh (Dhaka)5 289 9 340 303 274 7 20
Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi) N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
India (Bombay, New Delhi)5 15 34 13 9
Outside of Indian sub-continent3 54 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) 28 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Kenya (Nairobi) 9 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Nigeria (Lagos) 7 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Philippines (Manila) 4 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Thailand (Bangkok) 4 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Turkey (Istanbul) 7 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
United Arab Emirates (Dubai) 2 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
N/a Not available.
— Nil return.
1 In 1993, nine tests have also been carried out in Calcutta and one in Madras.
2 Includes IS tests in Dhaka for which the outcome is not known.
3 Refers to the number of tests for which an invoice has been received.
4 In the first quarter of 1994, three tests wer also carried out in Calcutta.
5 Includes four tests in Bombay, and two in Dhaka for which the outcome is not known.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were waiting for special quota vouchers in(a) India, (b) east Africa and (c) the rest of the world in (i) May 1993 and (ii) December 1993; when those issued with vouchers on those dates had applied; how many vouchers were issued in (1) India, (2) east Africa and

Table.1. Persons applying for a special voucher for entry to the United Kingdom, 1993 and Ql 1994
Number of persons
Country of application Applications newly received Vouchers issued Applications awaiting a decision at end of
1993 Q1 1994 1993 Q1 1994 Q2 1993 Q4 1993
India 230 40 300 40 40
Kenya 190 40 160 40 30 90
Tanzania 15 10 10 60 60
Malawi 1 n/a 1 n/a n/a
Zambia 10 2 10 2 10 2
Rest of the world 10 10
Total 450 80 490 40 140 200
1 Includes applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.
2 5 or fewer.
n/a Not available.
— nil.

Table 2. Waiting times for persons applying for a special voucher
Months
Waiting times to main interview for persons interviewed at end of Persons applying at end of1
Q2 1993 Q41993 Ql 1994
India 3 3
Kenya 2 0.25 0.25
Tanzania 1 1 1
Malawi n/a
Zambia
Rest of the world
1 Data relate to expected waiting times.
n/a Not available.
— nil

(3) the rest of the world in (a) 1993 and (b) the first quarter of 1994; when those applying now can expect to receive vouchers; and how many applicants there were for vouchers in (v) India and (w) East Africa and (x) the rest of the world in (y) 1993 and (z) the first half of 1994.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The information which is currently available is given in the tables.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were detained under Immigration Act powers for a period of more than two months on completion of a custodial sentence during 1993.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Some 55 people who completed a custodial sentence in 1993 were detained for more than two months under deportation powers. This figure does not include those subject to removal as illegal entrants, in relation to whom the information is not readily available.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many operations against people alleged to be in the United Kingdom illegally involving both immigration officers and police took place during 1993, and 1994 to the latest convenient date; and for each operation by date, and by name how many(a) immigration officers and (b) police officers were involved; how many people were arrested and found to be (i) legally in the United Kingdom, (ii) in breach of immigration conditions, (iii) alleged illegal entrants and (iv) British citizens; how many requested and were granted legal advice before interview; how many were detained for (x) one day or less, (y) between a day and a week and (z) over a week; and how many have subsequently left the United Kingdom.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Joint immigration service/police operations are undertaken at local level, and many are on a relatively small scale. Information in the form requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding immigration applications there are at Lunar house, at the latest convenient date from(a) students, (b) family members in the United Kingdom applying for variation of stay, (c) settlement entry clearance applications referred from overseas posts and (d) asylum seekers; and what are the average times applicants in each category might expect to wait before a decision.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The available information is that at the end of June 1994 there were in total about 24,500 cases in the general immigration case-working groups, including referred entry clearance applications, the majority of which were under consideration or the subject of further inquiries, and about 50,000 cases in the asylum and special cases division.

The estimated average length of time between the receipt of the application and the decision, for cases decided in case-working groups, in the first quarter of 1994, was about two months for students and about 13 months for asylum applications. Information on average waiting times for family members in the United Kingdom for variation of leave and for settlement entry clearance applications referred from overseas posts is not available.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications from over-age reapplicants from the Indian sub-continent seeking to join a sponsor settled in the United Kingdom have been(a) made, (b) deferred, (c) refused and (d) granted in 1993 and the first quarter of 1994; and how many such reapplicants in each category had undergone successful DNA tests.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The information requested is not available centrally.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people during 1993 and the first quarter of 1994 were(a) required to undergo a medical examination and (b) refused entry clearance abroad, and in which countries, for (i) settlement and (ii) other purposes on medical grounds; and what are the most common medical grounds for refusal.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of passengers detained overnight under Immigration Act powers during(a) 1993 and (b) the first quarter of 1994 by nationality.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The information requested for 1993 is given in the tables; corresponding information for the first quarter of 1994 is not yet available.

Passengers1 detained overnight or longer in 1993, by nationality
Geographical region and nationality2 Number of persons
All nationalities 5,571
European Community 79
Belgium 3
Denmark 1
France 36
Germany
Greece 1
Italy 4
Luxembourg
Netherlands 10
Portugal 24
Spain
Other Western Europe 333
Austria 5
Cyprus 51
Finland 4
Malta 4
Norway 3
Sweden 7
Switzerland 3
Turkey 192
Yugoslav passport holders 64
Eastern Europe 311
Bulgaria 9
Czechoslovak passport holders 26
Hungary 22
Poland 144
Romania 78
USSR passport holders 32
Americas 589
Argentina 8
Barbados 7
Brazil 72
Canada 30
Chile 1
Colombia 136
Guyana 18
Jamaica 194
Mexico 10
Peru 27
Trinidad and Tobago 8
United States of America 67
Venezeula 11
Africa 2,209
Algeria 131
Angola 55
Egypt 5
Ethiopia 70
Geographical region and nationality2 Number of persons
Ghana 419
Kenya 152
Libya 38
Mauritius 28
Morocco 18
Nigeria 575
Sierra Leone 207
Somalia 148
South Africa 57
Sudan 14
Tanzania 66
Tunisia 6
Uganda 46
Zaire 145
Zambia 15
Zimbabwe 14
Indian sub-continent 397
Bangladesh 117
India 136
Pakistan 144
Middle East 113
Iran 26
Iraq 36
Israel 10
Jordan 2
Kuwait 4
Lebanon 21
Saudi Arabia 7
Syria 4
Yemen 3
Remainder of Asia 385
China 78
Hong Kong3 17
Indonesia 2
Japan 8
Malaysia 67
Philippines 9
Singapore 11
South Korea 12
Sri Lanka 181
Thailand
Australasia 12
Australia 9
New Zealand 3

Admissions to the United Kingdom of BDTCs and BN(0)s from Hong Kong in 1993
Admission category 1st quarter 2nd quarter 3rd quarter 4th quarter Year
Visitors:
Ordinary 7,350 13,500 20,900 8,160 50,000
Business 1,680 2,090 1,790 1,220 6,780
Students 530 370 5,630 810 7,340
Husbands and fiancés2 1 10 10 1 20
Wives and fiancées2 40 30 30 10 110
Parents and grandparents2 1 1 1 1 10
Children2 10 10 20 10 50
1 5 or fewer
2 Seeking, or accepted for, settlement in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for naturalisation have been made under the provisions of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990; and how many of them were(a) decided, (b) granted, (c) refused and (d) withdrawn, under each class and category of the scheme, in each quarter since January 1993 and in total throughout the existence of the scheme; and how many of these applications were from (i) heads of households or (ii) family members.

Geographical region and nationality Number of persons
Others 1,143
British Overseas Citizens 34
Other countries not elsewhere specified 727
Stateless 382
1 Includes some illegal entrants and deportees.
2 Or claimed nationality where the nationality is in doubt.
3 Excluding Hong Kong stateless persons.

Mr. Miller

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations are carried out by Her Majesty's Government into the background of residents of the republics of the former Soviet Union when considering visa applications.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have been asked to reply.

Entry clearance officers must be satisfied that all visa applicants, irrespective of their nationality, meet the requirements of the immigration rules before visas may be issued. In some cases, this will require inquiries to be made locally, in the United Kingdom, and/or of other overseas posts.

Forward to