HC Deb 24 January 2001 vol 361 cc593-4W
Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many spouses of UK citizens living abroad have been refused a visa to enter the UK. [146164]

Mr. Vaz

I regret that the information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Statistics are available for the number of spouses refused entry clearance to join husbands or wives settled in the UK, but they do not distinguish between spouses of UK citizens living abroad and others. For most non-settlement applications, statistics are not available distinguishing between spouses and others.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many foreign relatives of UK citizens were denied visas to attend family weddings in the UK in the most recent year for which figures are available. [146165]

Mr. Vaz

I regret that the information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Statistics are not collected on the number of applications for visas to attend weddings.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many initially refused applications for visas to enter the UK were(a) reconsidered and (b) approved, following intervention by hon. Members in the last three years. [146166]

Mr. Vaz

As Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with responsibility for entry clearance, I am replying on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

I regret that the number of visa applications reconsidered following intervention by hon. Members is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

As a result of intervention by hon. Members, I have, since October 1999, approved the issue of 45 visas that had previously been refused. No records of such approvals were held before this date.