Immigration (Hansard, 6 November 1995)

§ Mr. Fatchett
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to introduce a system whereby a reference number is allocated to each individual who contacts entry clearance staff about an application for a visitor's visa, who is advised not to proceed, and then acts upon the advice, and if he will make a statement. [41396]

§ Mr. Hanley
Some entry clearance issuing posts operate a preliminary assessment system whereby an applicant may be advised by an entry clearance officer that his application is unlikely to succeed, should he choose to proceed with the application. A fee is not taken unless an application is formally lodged. It is made clear to applicants that they are not obliged to follow this advice.
Posts are required to maintain a record of the number of those who accept preliminary assessment advice. Additionally, posts are required to retain a record of those individuals who accept this advice for a period of six months after their inquiry to help deal with any subsequent inquiries.

§ Mr. Fatchett
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many potential applicants in(a) 1994 and (b) January to June 1995 seeking visitors' visas at (i) Islamabad, (ii) Delhi, (iii) Bombay and (iv) Lagos have been advised not to pursue their application; and if he will make a statement. [41397]

§ Mr. Hanley
The number of potential applicants for non-settlement visas who were offered and accepted advice that their application was unlikely to succeed before they had paid their (non-refundable fee) in;

(a) 1994 was:

(i) Islamabad 10803

(ii) New Delhi 8179

(iii) Bombay 1689

(iv) Lagos 916

(b) January to June 1995 was:

(i) Islamabad 4853

(ii) New Delhi 3125

(iii) Bombay 2231

(iv) Lagos 165

§ Mr. Kaufman
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out, for the most recently available 12-month period, the figures of applications for settlement in the United Kingdom from each country in the world, categorised by reasons for application and, in each case, the number and percentage of acceptance and refusals with, where available, reasons for rejection; and if he will, as appropriate, provide the same information with regard to applications for visits. [41712]

§ Mr. Hanley
Information on visas granted and refused by country of application is published in table 2.1 of the Home Office Command Paper "Control of Immigration Statistics United Kingdom 1994" issued on 10 August 1995, Cm HMSO, a copy of which is in the Library.
554W
Figures are not available in any format categorised by reasons for application or reasons for refusal in either settlement or visit cases. To compile such statistics would incur disproportionate cost.