§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the range of charges for applications for visas; what is the average cost of processing each application; what is the reason for the policy of making no refunds, in whole or in part, in the event of an application being refused; and what was the difference between the income from visa applications and the expenditure in processing them in the last year for which figures are available. [2035]
§ Dr. Liam FoxDetails of the fees for receiving applications for entry clearance for the United Kingdom are given in the Consular Fees Order 1996, SI 1996 No. 1915. The average cost of processing an application ranges from £25 for a direct airside transit visa to £230 for a settlement visa. Application fees are not refundable because it is Government policy to recover the full cost of processing an application irrespective of the outcome. However, if at a preliminary assessment stage the entry clearance officer believes that an application probably will not succeed, the applicant is informed and given the opportunity to decide not to make a formal application. In 117W that case, no fee is paid. In 1995–96, the income from fees was £42 million; the global entry clearance operation cost £48 million.
§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many potential applicants in(a) 1995 and (b) January to October 1996 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. [3209]
§ Dr. FoxThe numbers of entry clearance applicants who, following preliminary assessment advice, chose not to proceed were:
Islamabad Delhi Bombay Lagos 1995 13,717 6,101 4,260 348 January-September 1996 10,643 4,905 2,618 0 Statistics of those who were advised not to pursue their applications, but who nevertheless chose to do so, are not recorded.