§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for clearance to the United Kingdom there were in each of the last three years; and, of these, how many were(a) granted, (b) rejected on the grounds of Rule 320(18) of the UK Immigration Rules and (c) accepted despite the individual having relatively serious criminal convictions which would normally result in the application being rejected under Rule 320(18) of the UK Immigration Rules. [123584]
§ Mrs. RocheInformation on total grants and refusals of entry clearance applications overseas is given in Table 1. I regret that the other entry clearance information requested is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Only some nationalities and categories of person need to obtain entry clearance prior to arrival in the United Kingdom. Information is available on persons refused leave to enter at United Kingdom ports and removed where the principal reason for the decision was taken under paragraph 320(18) of the Immigration Rules, and is given in Table 2. Information is not available on cases where the discretion allowed under the Rule is exercised, either with regard to applications for entry clearance or leave to enter.
176W
Table 1. Decisions on entry clearance applications made worldwide Thousand Year Applications granted Applications refused initially 1997 1,284 81 1998 1,304 85 1999 1,515 100
Table 2. Passengers refused leave to enter because of a criminal conviction and removed Year Number of passengers 1997 16 1998 15 1999 27