HC Deb 01 March 1999 vol 326 cc562-3W
Ms Oona King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-EEA family members who arrived in possession of entry clearance holding an EEA family permit were refused entry by the immigration officer at a British port of entry during the period 1 February 1998 to date. [72874]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

I regret the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom were submitted in the last year; and how many are currently outstanding. [73002]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

I regret that full information is not available in the form requested. In 1998, some 46,000 asylum applications, including those at the ports of entry but excluding dependants, were received and at the end of the year 68,400 applications were outstanding. The number of applications received from non-European Economic Area nationals for an extension of stay is not available, but 157,000 initial decisions were made in 1998 and it is estimated that around 27,000 applications were outstanding at the end of the year.