HC Deb 09 December 1997 vol 302 cc496-7W
Fiona Mactaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many(a) visit, (b) settlement and (c) other visa applications made at the British High Commission in (i) Islamabad, (ii) Karachi, (iii) New Delhi, (iv) Mumbai, (v) Calcutta, (vi) Madras, (vii) Dhaka and (viii) Colombo were (1) made, (2) refused initially, (3) granted initially and (4) deferred in each year since 1992; [19013]

(2) how many (a) visit, (b) settlement and (c) other visa applications made at the British high commissions in (i) Islamabad, (ii) Karachi, (iii) New Delhi, (iv) Mumbai, (v) Calcutta, (vi) Madras, (vii) Dhaka and (viii) Colombo were (1) made, (2) refused initially, (3) granted initially and (4) deferred in each month since January 1996 to the latest convenient date. [19023]

Mr. Fatchett

In view of the amount of detail needed to answer this question, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Symons will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

Fiona Mactaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visit visa applications from people aged over 65 years were(a) made, (b) granted initially, (c) refused initially and (d) deferred at the British High Commission (i) Islamabad and (ii) New Delhi in each year since 1992. [19100]

Mr. Fatchett

The details are as follows:

Islamabad 10,864 applications were made between 1992 and November 1997 as follows:

  • 1992: 504
  • 1993: 1,086
  • 1994: 1,091
  • 1995: 2,846
  • 1996: 3,645
  • 1997 (to November): 1,692
A breakdown into issues, refusals and deferrals cannot be given without a physical search of all applications which would entail disproportionate cost to public funds.

New Delhi New Delhi only maintains non-settlement records for 2 years after a visa is issued. The figures for 1996 and to the end of November 1997 are as follows: Deferred figures are not available.

Year Applications made Granted Refused
1996 4,801 2,647 991
1997 4,084 3,394 439