HC Deb 19 July 1996 vol 281 cc694-5W
Mr. Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) men, (b) women and (c) children were waiting in each queue in respect of entry into the United Kingdom at each post in the Indian sub-continent on (i) 1 January (ii) 30 June and (iii) the latest convenient date. [38063]

Mr. Hanley

The information requested is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long a person applying for entry clearance on 31 March or the latest convenient date at each post in the Indian sub-continent could expect to wait, in each queue, for(a) a first interview, (b) referral of the case to the Home Office and the requested information being received by the post, (c) a decision after first interview and (d) for the explanatory statement prepared by the post in the case of appeal against a refusal to be dispatched to the immigration appellate authorities in the United Kingdom. [38057]

Mr. Hanley

The information requested is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to the letter that I sent him on 30 January 1996.

Mr. Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the present waiting times to first interview for each category of applicant in respect of entry into the United Kingdom in(a) each country and at each post in the Indian sub-continent, (b) Bangkok, (c) Manila, (d) Lagos, (e) Accra, (f) Kingston, (g) Addis Ababa, (h) Sana'a, (i) Moscow and (j) Warsaw. [38064]

Mr. Hanley

The information requested is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to the letter that I sent him on 30 January 1996.

Mr. Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long a person applying for entry clearance for settlement at the British post in(a) Manila, (b) Accra, (c) Lagos, (d) Kingston, (e) Nicosia, (f) Cairo, (g) Bangkok, (h) Rabat and (i) each post in each country of the Indian sub-continent on 30 June or the latest convenient date could expect to wait for (i) interview, (ii) referral of the case to the Home Office and the requested information being received by the post, (iii) decisions and (iv) an explanatory statement prepared by the post in the event of an appeal against a refusal to be dispatched to the immigration appellate authorities in the United Kingdom. [38055]

Mr. Hanley

The information requested is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to the letter that I sent him on 30 January 1996.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 July,Official Report, columns 423–24, when decisions are to be taken on the passport applications made by Tahira Jabeen, Fazal Ur Rahman Hussain and Noor Ur Rahman Hussain by the post in Islamabad; if the report requested from the Home Office was received at the post in November 1995; and if he will make a statement. [38449]

Mr. Hanley

The report has been received from the Home Office. However, the passport officer in Islamabad is not yet in a position to take a decision on these applications. Further inquiries are necessary it is hoped that the matter can be resolved before the end of the year.