§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if(a) he, (b) the Permanent-Under Secretary and (c) the Director for the Public 134W Departments was notified (i) orally and (ii) in writing about the Minister for Europe's decisions to reverse visa refusals. [156530]
§ Mr. Vaz[holding answer 2 April 2001]I have overturned visa refusals only at the request of right hon. and hon. Members, if I am satisfied that the applicants qualify under the Immigration Rules. In such cases the Joint Entry Clearance Unit notifies in writing relevant parts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the right hon. or hon. Member is notified in writing.
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the effectiveness of the work of entry clearance officers, with particular reference to the refusal of visa applications. [156528]
§ Mr. Vaz[holding answer 2 April 2001]No, I am very satisfied with the practices and procedures which have been in place over tile last four years.
The work of entry clearance officers is kept under constant review by entry clearance managers, who have a specific responsibility for reviewing all visa refusals.
Visa refusals either carry a right of appeal to the Independent Appellate Authority or are subject to scrutiny by the Independent Monitor appointed under the Immigration Appeals Act 1993 to monitor refusals with no right of appeal. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office Joint Entry Clearance Unit carries out regular reviews of Entry Clearance Sections overseas.
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, in respect of each visa application approved, following initial refusal by the Minister for Europe,(a) the name of the hon. Member in whose constituency the applicant's sponsor lived, (b) the grounds stated in the notice of refusal on which the application was initially refused, (c) if (i) a second and (ii) a subsequent interview was conducted following the Minister of State's intervention, (d) the written terms under which the Minister of State instructed the entry clearance post to issue the visa, (e) if, after the original refusal, the entry clearance post stated that they continued to believe that the entry clearance should be refused, (f) if the applicant (1) overstayed the terms laid down in the leave to remain granted when they first arrive in the UK and (2) subsequently extended their stay and (g) if entry clearance posts notified the Migration and Visa Division (A) orally and (B) in writing of their concerns over the Minister's decisions to reverse visa refusals. [156527]
§ Mr. Vaz[holding answer 2 April 2001]It is not our practice to comment on individual visa cases. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 22 March 2001,Official Report, columns 3l6–17W
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which hon. Members have made representation; to the Minister for Europe regarding visa refusals; and how many of these refusals have been overturned. [156199]
§ Mr. Vaz[holding answer 30 March 2001]I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 22 March 2001,Official Report, columns 316–17W.