§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of the Minister of State, Foreign Office, on 5 December 1995,Official Report, column 214, for what reasons the letter concerning an interview of the sponsor in the United Kingdom was sent to the Foreign Office; how long it took his Department to send the letter to the Foreign Office; and what were the reasons for the delay. [4930]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe hon. Member's letter of 6 November related to an entry clearance application which had been deferred to the Home Office for further inquiries to be made to enable the entry clearance officer to make a decision. Replies to letters in these circumstances fall to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The hon. Member's letter was received in the immigration and nationality department on 13 November and was faxed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office migration and visa correspondence unit on 1 December. I regret the delay in transferring the letter, which arose because it was not immediately recognised that it related to a deferred application.