§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people of which nationalities required to hold an airside transit visa were(a) granted and (b) refused such visas in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998. [70737]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienInformation by nationality is not centrally recorded. The available information, which is in the Library, is by region and relates to the British diplomatic post where the visa was applied for, which is not necessarily in the country of which the applicant is a national. Data for 1996 and 1997 are given in the table. No data are yet available for 1998.
662W
Grants and refusals of applications for direct transit visas, by geographical of place of application,1996–97 1996 1997 Region Issued Refused Issued Refused Equatorial Africa 2,330 150 2,670 100 Southern Africa 70 100 90 1— Near East/North Africa 40 1— 70 10 Middle East 4,950 40 7,120 100 Far East 1,930 20 800 20 South Asia 860 20 1,490 20 South East Asia 650 2— 220 2— Australasia/South Pacific 10 2— 20 2— Western Europe 3,230 10 3,570 20 Central Europe/FSU 380 1— 280 10
Grants and refusals of applications for direct airside transit visas, by geographical region of place of application, 1996–97 1996 1997 Region Issued Refused Issued Refused Southern Europe 2,040 20 2,980 10 North America 6,130 1— 9,380 10 West Indies and Atlantic 270 10 240 10 Latin America 310 2— 100 1— Global Totals 23,200 280 29,000 300 1Negligible(i.e. five or fewer) 2Nil