HC Deb 11 June 1996 vol 279 cc138-9W
Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the number of visitor applications made, (b) the number of visas granted and (c) the number of illegal overstays from the visas issued in respect of each British embassy in the last available year. [32210]

Mr. Hanley

In view of the amount of detail needed to answer this question, I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Mrs. Wise

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visitor visas have been rejected by the entry clearance officers in Pakistan in the last year; and how many were rejected in the year before the removal of the right of appeal. [32182]

Mr. Hanley

Entry clearance officers in Pakistan refused 12,218 visit visa applications in 1995. In 1992, the year prior to the removal of appeals against visit visa refusals, the number was 11,012.

Mrs. Wise

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the applications for visitor visas rejected by the high commission in Pakistan in the past year were(a) fathers and (b) mothers of people resident in the United Kingdom. [32184]

Mr. Hanley

This information is not readily available at post and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mrs. Wise

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people intending to apply for visitor visas in the past year were informed by the high commission in Pakistan that they should not make a formal application because they would have no chance of success. [32191]

Mr. Hanley

An entry clearance officer may advise an applicant to withdraw his/her visa application only if it is unlikely to succeed. In 1995, 13,717 applicants were so advised at the high commission in Islamabad.