§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average waiting time for the processing of an application by a foreign national for settlement in this country on the basis of his or her marriage to a UK citizen. [105602]
§ Mrs. RocheThe information requested is not available.
The time taken to process applications for settlement on the basis of marriage to a United Kingdom citizen is affected by a number of factors, including the complexity of individual cases. However, where the applicant obtained prior entry clearance for the purpose of marriage before entering the United Kingdom, applications for settlement are at present being dealt with within a week. Those applications where further inquiries may be needed 23W can take considerably longer but are now being given priority. A special exercise was set in place before Christmas to target such applications.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the last five years, how many applications for settlement were(a) made, (b) decided on and (c) outstanding at the year end; and what was the average time taken to process an application in each year. [106047]
§ Mrs. RocheThe available information relates to decisions taken on applications for indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, excluding those cases where indefinite leave to remain is refused but limited leave is granted in some capacity. Data for 1995 to the end of the first half of 1999 are given in the table, together with an estimated average time which such decisions took in 1995–98. Following reorganisation of caseworking practices at the beginning of 1999, the time taken to process applications for variation of leave, which includes applications for indefinite leave to remain, is affected by a number of factors, including the complexity of individual cases. More than half of applications for variation of leave can be processed under "fast track" procedures. Such cases are currently being determined within about a week of receipt, but applications where further inquiries are needed may take considerably longer. Streamlined procedures have, however, been introduced throughout the Integrated Casework Directorate to speed up consideration of all applications.
Year of decision Settlement applications decided Average time (in days) to decide applications for indefinite leave to remain 1995 59,040 57 1996 64,340 46 1997 60,580 53 1998 71,290 72 19991 236,300 1 First half 2 Provisional