HC Deb 02 November 1998 vol 318 cc376-83W
Mr. Godsiff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many nationals of(a) Morocco, (b) Mozambique, (c) Nepal, (d) Pakistan, (e) Peru, (f) the Philippines and (g) Romania applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57322]

(2) how many nationals of (a) the Dominican Republic, (b) Ecuador, (c) Egypt, (d) Eritrea, (e) Fiji, (f) Gabon, (g) the Gambia and (h) Ethiopia applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57326]

(3) how many nationals of (a) Iraq, (b) Ivory Coast, (c) Jordan, (d) Kenya, (e) Kuwait, (f) Laos and (g) Lebanon applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57324]

(4) how many nationals of (a) Georgia, (b) Ghana, (c) Guyana, (d) Haiti, (e) India, (f) Indonesia and (g) Iran applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57325]

(5) how many nationals of (a) Afghanistan, (b) Albania, (c) Algeria, (d) Angola, (e) Armenia, (f) Azerbaijan and (g) Bahrain applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57330]

(6) how many Zambian nationals applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to Zambia before their visa expired in (a) 1994, (b) 1995, (c) 1996 and (d) 1997; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57083]

(7) how many nationals of (a) Liberia, (b) Libya, (c) Macedonia, (d) Madagascar, (e) the Maldives, (f) Moldova and (g) Mongolia applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57323]

(8) how many nationals of (a) the Sudan, (b) Syria, (c) Taiwan, (d) Tanzania, (e) Thailand, (f) Tunisia and (g) Turkey applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57320]

(9) how many nationals of (a) Russia, (b) Rwanda, (c) Saudi Arabia, (d) Senegal, (e) Sierra Leone, (f) Somalia and (g) Sri Lanka applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57321]

(10) how many nationals of (a) Cameroon, (b) the Central African Republic, (c) Chad, (d) China, (e) Columbia, (f) the Congo and (g) Djibouti applied

Table 1 Applications for entry clearance for temporary purposes, and numbers issued 1994–1997
Country of Application Applications received Entry clearances issued
1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997
Algeria 6,630 2,430 2,450 2,660 6,100 2,430 2,450 2,660
Angola 1,140 1,250 1,380 1,490 1,080 1,170 1,230 1,360
Armenia 1 1 240 670 1 1 230 630
Azerbaijan 580 1,130 1,620 2,350 2 1,120 1,390 2,340
Bahrain 4,000 4,280 14,110 13,220 3,900 4,190 14,060 13,130
Bangladesh 15,690 14,220 13,810 13,120 11,240 9,680 9,940 9,460
Belarus 1 1,720 6,770 7,520 1 1,640 6,560 7,280
Bulgaria 10,260 12,590 13,230 14,780 9,950 12,230 12,230 13,890

for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57327]

(11) how many nationals of (a) Bangladesh, (b) Belarus, (c) Benin, (d) Bhutan, (e) Bulgaria, (f) Burundi and (g) Cambodia applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum; [57328]

(12) how many nationals of (a) Yugoslavia, (b) Ukraine, (c) Vietnam and (d) Yemen applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications, in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of those visas returned to their country of nationality before their visa expired, based on information collected centrally and locally; and how many applied to remain permanently in the United Kingdom or for political asylum. [57319]

Kate Hoey

The available information is given in the tables.

Entry clearance data are available by country of application only, which is not necessarily the country of the applicant's nationality. There were no entry clearance issuing posts in Afghanistan, Albania, Benin, Bhutan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Gabon, Haiti, Iraq, Laos, Liberia, Maldives, Moldova, Rwanda or Somalia in 1994–1997 and residents of those countries have to apply elsewhere.

No data are available on the numbers of persons who return to their country of nationality before their leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom expires.

Information is not available on the number of holders of visas for temporary purposes who apply for asylum or for settlement. The information in Table 2 on grants of settlement includes persons who entered the United Kingdom with a settlement entry clearance; and the data on asylum applications include persons who held no entry clearance.

Table 1 Applications for entry clearance for temporary purposes, and numbers issued 1994–1997
Country of Application Applications received Entry clearances issued
1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997
Cambodia 1 30 60 1 1 30 60 1
Cameroon 1,030 1,420 1,440 1,740 860 1,130 1,180 1,460
China 20,420 22,370 28,370 33,300 20,020 20,280 26,350 28,040
Colombia 140 120 200 14,640 140 120 190 14,200
Congo Dem. Rep. (formerly Zaire) 610 610 950 670 440 480 800 510
Dominican Rep. 1 1 1 420 1 1 1 380
Ecuador 180 160 130 1,660 170 140 110 1,440
Egypt 23,640 25,200 30,110 28,690 22,260 24,080 28,500 26,980
Ethiopia 4,490 3,930 4,870 4,990 2,890 2,950 4,510 4,590
Fiji 260 220 740 730 260 220 740 710
Gambia 700 1,150 2,770 2,960 640 1,000 2,200 2,230
Georgia 1 1 1 1,470 1 1 1 1,440
Ghana 15,960 17,490 18,830 18,470 11,550 12,270 13,140 13,760
Guyana 290 310 1,430 1,530 290 220 1,220 1,330
India 102,790 115,280 126,810 133,980 92,300 103,340 113,460 120,910
Indonesia 25,980 29,020 31,870 31,890 25,910 28,760 29,930 30,070
Iran 23,670 22,930 18,550 20,390 21,010 18,130 14,140 15,440
Ivory Coast 1,140 1,860 1,850 2,030 840 1,360 1,550 1,710
Jordan 8,900 9,640 10,300 9,490 8,770 8,830 10,080 8,660
Kenya 2,270 2,750 18,440 17,420 2,100 2,050 17,260 16,280
Kuwait 8,140 8,310 42,630 40,440 7,310 7,020 39,580 38,430
Lebanon 10,790 11,020 7,880 7,930 9,740 10,620 7,340 7,480
Libya 890 580 280 580 760 570 250 750
Macedonia 50 160 260 260 2 160 260 260
Madagascar 290 290 280 320 290 280 280 320
Mongolia 500 640 550 580 450 510 460 570
Morocco 6,180 7,530 7,970 7,010 5,180 6,520 6,910 5,930
Mozambique 550 540 530 640 540 540 520 620
Nepal 1,760 2,120 2,400 3,060 1,480 1,870 1,880 2,620
Pakistan 63,290 63,940 59,230 50,070 47,850 45,520 42,130 37,120
Peru 250 170 2,930 3,350 230 170 2,870 3,260
Philippines 13,290 16,460 19,680 20,390 12,380 14,580 17,600 18,690
Romania 14,360 16,550 21,120 18,700 13,200 15,820 20,060 17,170
Russia 103,150 113,490 118,730 108,160 100,460 102,940 109,150 104,820
Saudi Arabia 50,430 52,910 51,430 55,400 47,700 49,150 48,750 53,060
Senegal 840 910 980 1,380 640 820 860 1,160
Sierra Leone 1,480 3,210 2,430 590 1,060 2,260 1,960 460
Sri Lanka 9,620 10,050 11,340 11,780 7,420 8,680 10,370 11,200
Sudan 4,970 4,560 3,920 3,350 3,320 3,630 3,130 2,730
Syria 5,100 5,290 5,500 5,730 4,690 4,680 4,980 5,210
Taiwan 52,380 53,520 53,080 50,130 52,380 53,520 53,080 50,180
Tanzania 780 760 6,920 6,870 650 680 6,390 6,500
Thailand 45,270 50,690 51,780 41,850 44,350 49,860 50,250 39,280
Tunisia 6,040 7,860 7,800 7,180 5,620 6,600 4,870 5,390
Turkey 41,480 50,200 64,760 64,140 37,150 45,900 59,850 57,080
Ukraine 16,530 18,830 23,640 22,380 14,530 16,690 21,590 19,540
Vietnam 620 1,040 1,230 1,180 580 830 1,150 1,250
Yemen 3,220 4,770 3,200 3,700 2,820 3,600 2,440 3,220
Yugoslavia 3,210 10,320 13,790 13,550 2,930 9,420 12,970 12,740
Zambia 1,280 1,130 3,860 4,010 1,160 1,030 3,620 3,730
1 Not available
2 Not applicable—no entry clearance facilities available in that country
Table 2
Grants of settlement and applications for asylum 1994–1997
Nationality Grants of settlement1,2,3 Applications4 for asylum
1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997
Afghanistan 60 90 170 325 580 675 1,085
Albania 10 10 20 30 9 9 105 445
Algeria 400 440 400 370 995 1,865 715 715
Angola 30 40 30 60 605 555 385 195
Armenia5 3 10 3 3 9 2 5 35
Azerbaijan5 10 10 3 3 9 9 * 15
Bahrain 10 20 20 30 9 9 10 5
Bangladesh 2,960 3,250 2,690 2,820 9 9 645 545
Belarus5 3 3 10 10 9 9 * 35
Benin 10 10 10 10 9 9 5 5
Table 2
Grants of settlement and applications for asylum 1994–1997
Natonality Grants of settlement1,2,3 Applications4 for asylum
1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997
Bhutan 3 10 3 3 9 9 5 10
Bulgaria 100 140 200 160 235 480 305 545
Burundi 3 10 10 10 9 9 60 85
Cambodia 3 3 10 3 9 9 * *
Cameroon 60 70 90 80 75 85 105 175
Central African Rep. 10 10 10 3 9 9 * 9
Chad 10 10 10 10 9 9 * 5
China 930 1,060 1,120 1,140 425 790 820 1,945
Colombia 260 280 260 230 405 525 1,005 1,330
Congo 3 10 3 3 9 9 75 90
Congo Dem. Rep. (formerly Zaire) 70 120 90 90 775 935 680 690
Djibouti 20 20 3 3 9 9 5 *
Dominican Rep. 30 30 30 30 9 9 435 1,205
Ecuador 30 40 30 40 9 9 435 1,205
Egypt 290 270 320 320 9 9 20 40
Eritrea 10 3 10 20 9 9 135 125
Ethiopia 310 170 130 200 730 585 205 145
Fiji 20 30 30 20 9 9 10 10
Gabon 3 3 10 3 9 9 * 5
Gambia 60 100 110 90 9 9 245 125
Georgia5 10 3 10 20 9 9 5 30
Ghana 1,490 1,690 1,840 1,180 2,035 1,915 780 350
Guyana 190 170 180 160 9 9 15 5
Haiti 10 10 3 3 9 9 10 10
India 4,400 4,550 4,320 4,270 2,030 3,255 2,220 1,285
Indonesia 90 90 90 80 9 9 * 5
Iran 990 1,110 1,700 1,040 520 615 585 585
Iraq 570 530 1,560 1,600 550 930 965 1,075
Ivory Coast 20 40 40 30 705 245 125 70
Jordan 160 150 110 150 9 9 25 15
Kenya 480 460 540 430 1,130 1,395 1,170 605
Kuwait 10 30 20 40 9 9 25 25
Laos 10 10 10 10 9 9 10 10
Lebanon 280 400 660 630 215 150 145 160
Liberia 20 10 20 60 140 390 330 205
Libya 120 70 110 120 9 9 65 100
Macedonia 3 10 20 20 9 9 15 20
Madagascar 3 10 3 10 9 9 5 5
Maldives 3 3 3 3 9 9 10 10
Moldova5 3 3 3 10 9 9 * 20
Mongolia 10 10 3 3 9 9 15 25
Morocco 500 430 460 400 9 9 5 10
Mozambique 10 20 10 10 9 9 5 10
Nepal 40 60 50 60 9 9 70 55
Pakistan 6,140 6,220 6,170 5,480 1,810 2,915 1,915 1,615
Peru 100 100 80 110 9 9 25 15
Philippines 790 980 920 810 9 9 125 65
Romania 120 190 270 220 355 770 455 605
Russia5 140 310 410 470 595 795 205 180
Rwanda6 3 10 3 3 80 155 80 90
Saudi Arabia 60 40 40 30 9 9 5 5
Senegal 10 10 30 10 9 9 15 5
Sierra Leone 410 430 550 450 1,810 855 395 815
Somalia 1,290 650 640 920 1,840 3,465 1,780 2,730
Sri Lanka 1,810 1,340 2,120 1,540 2,350 2,070 1,340 1,830
Sudan 140 150 360 2,180 330 345 280 230
Syria 70 100 110 120 9 9 35 50
Taiwan 20 40 60 80 9 9 10 5
Tanzania7 180 230 210 140 165 1,535 225 90
Thailand 480 460 500 420 9 9 15 25
Tunisia 100 80 90 70 9 9 25 20
Turkey 1,850 1,140 3,710 4,210 2,045 1,820 1,495 1,445
Ukraine5 20 40 80 100 9 9 235 490
Vietnam 30 30 30 50 9 9 10 10
Table 2 Grants of settlement and applications for asylum 1994–1997
Nationality Grants of settlement1,2,3 Applications4for asylum
1994 1995 1996 1997 1994 1995 1996 1997
Yemen 170 150 150 110 9 9 60 35
Yugoslavia8 370 420 440 330 1,385 1,565 1,030 2,260
Zambia 150 190 220 180 9 9 30 30
1 Excluding grants of settlement on arrival
2 All settlement data are rounded to three significant figures or to the nearest 10 if less than 1,000
3 Negligible (i.e. five or fewer)
4 Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2, and exclude dependants
5 Identified as Total Former Soviet Union until July 1996 when the individual countries became separately identifiable
6 Data for 1994 are from September onwards
7 Data for 1994 are for May to December only
8 Data are for the Total Former Yugoslavia
9 Not available
10 Nil