§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1 May420W 1997 he has used his powers to instruct immigration officers to disapply, and in respect of how many persons (a) any part of the immigration rules, (b) any of the restrictions in paragraph 320 of the immigration rules and (c) the restrictions in sub-paragraph 18 of paragraph 320 of the immigration rules. [107030]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 27 January 2000]: Under paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 the power of the Secretary of State to give instructions to Immigration Officers is limited to instructions which are not inconsistent with the Immigration Rules. In addition, the Secretary of State may give advice to Immigration Officers which they would take into account when exercising their power to grant or refuse leave to enter outside the Immigration Rules. No record is kept of the number of occasions on which such instructions or advice are given and this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost, but I can personally recall only two occasions where I have given a specific instruction under paragraph 1(3).