HC Deb 01 February 1995 vol 253 cc682-4W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Leeds-Bradford airport was designated as a port of entry; how many and what grades of immigration service officers are currently based at the airport; what was the establishment of immigration officer staff at the comparable period of each year since the airport became a port of entry; how many immigration clerical support staff have been employed at the airport each year since it became a port of entry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholas Baker

Leeds-Bradford airport was designated as a port of entry on 1 March 1987. Records indicate that, since 1987, the immigration office at Leeds-Bradford airport has had the following staff in post:

1 March 1987:

  • 1 Chief Immigration Officer
  • 7 Immigration Officers
  • 1 part-time Administrative Officer and
  • 1 part-time typist.

1 January 1988:

  • 1 Inspector
  • 1 Chief Immigration Officer
  • 7 Immigration Officers
  • 1 part-time Administrative Officer and
  • 1 part-time typist.

1 January 1989:

  • 1 Inspector
  • 2 Chief Immigration Officers,
  • 8 Immigration Officers and
  • 1 part-time typist.

1 January 1990:

  • 1 Inspector
  • 2 Chief Immigration Officers
  • 9 Immigration Officers
  • 1 part-time Administrative Officer
  • 1 part-time typist.

1 January 1991:

  • 1 Inspector
  • 2 Chief Immigration Officers
  • 8 Immigration Officers
  • 1 part-time Administrative Officer and
  • 1 part-time typist.

1 January 1992:

  • 1 Inspector
  • 2 Chief Immigration Officers
  • 8 Immigration Officers
  • 1 part-time Administrative Officer
  • 1 part-time typist.

1 January 1993:

  • 1 Inspector
  • 2 Chief Immigration Officers
  • 9 Immigration Officers
  • 1 part-time Administrative Officer and
  • 1 part-time typist.

1 January 1994:

  • 1 Inspector
  • 2 Chief Immigration Officers
  • 10 full-time and I part-time Immigration Officers
  • 1 part-time Administrative Officer and
    • 684
  • 1 part-time typist.

1 January 1995:

  • 1 Inspector
  • 2 Chief Immigration Officers
  • 10 full-time and 1 part-time Immigration Officers,
  • 1 Executive Officer, 1 part-time Administrative Officer and
  • 1 part-time typist.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of requests outstanding for sponsor interviews at Leeds-Bradford Airport; and over the last three years(a) what has been the average delay between the date a request for a sponsor interview being recorded in his Department and the interview being conducted by immigration officers based at Leeds-Bradford airport and (b) how many sponsor interviews have been conducted each week; and what representations has he received about delays in holding sponsor interviews by immigration office staff at Leeds-Bradford airport.

Mr. Nicholas Baker

Local records indicate that there are currently 135 requests for sponsor interviews outstanding at Leeds-Bradford airport where the average delay in 1992 and 1993 in dealing with cases was 2.14 months in 1992 and 3.29 months in 1993. In 1994 the average delay in completed cases was 2.29 months. Some cases from 1994 have not yet been completed.

Records of interviews are not kept on a weekly basis but a total of 27 interviews took place in 1992, 20 in 1993 and 69 in 1994.

The information requested about representations received in respect of delays in holding sponsor interviews at Leeds-Bradford airport is not held in the form requested and cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.