HC Deb 24 February 1999 vol 326 cc306-7W
Mr. Coleman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is(a) the average and (b) the longest time taken to determine applications for European Economic Area residents' permits in each year from 1995 to date. [70761]

Kate Hoey

I regret I am unable to provide the statistical information requested as it is not readily available in the form requested. Collation of the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Coleman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for European Economic Area residents' permits were(a) granted and (b) refused for each month in the years from 1995 to 1998; and how many such applications are currently outstanding. [70719]

Kate Hoey

Monthly figures for grants and refusals of residence permits from January 1996 to August 1998 are listed in the table. A total figure for 1995 has been included as the monthly figures for that year are not readily available. The number of applications outstanding (as at October 1998) was 5,500.

Grants/refusals of EEA residence permits 1995–98
Granted Refused
1995 3,614 68
1996
January 204 9
February 311 5
March 238 1
April 240 1
May 238 1
June 257 1
July 237 1
August 205 1
September 254 2
October 244 3
November 243 2
December 158 1
1997
January 177 1
February 122 5
March 192 1
April 231 2
May 167 2
June 272 1
July 250 0
August 141 1
September 95 3
October 55 2
November 78 1
December 26 5

Grants/refusals of EEA residence permits 1995–98
Granted Refused
1998
January 37 6
February 81 1
March 99 0
April 211 6
May 200 2
June 108 1
July 109 2
August 86 4

Population of sentenced females in prisons in England and Wales by principal drugs offence on 31 January 1999, by sentence length1
Offence less than 3 months 3 months to less than 6 months 6 months to less than 12 months 12 months and over Total
All drugs offences 5 5 33 782 825
of which:
Unlawful supply — — 14 153 167
Possession with intent 3 3 13 138 156
Possession 2 2 7 38 49
Unlawful import/export — — — 448 448
Other drugs offences — — — 5 5
1 Provisional figures

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female foreign nationals are serving sentences for drug related offences. [72360]

Mr. George Howarth

The latest available provisional information is for 31 January 1999. On that date, there were 274 female foreign nationals serving sentences for drug-related offences in prisons in England and Wales.