HC Deb 19 April 2002 vol 383 cc1257-8W
Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring systems are used to track applications by non-UK citizens to remain in the UK on the basis of marriage. [49682]

Angela Eagle

All new applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom, including those lodged on the basis of marriage, are recorded on a case information database, together with any subsequent actions that may take place concerning that application.

Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time was to process an application for a non-UK citizen to remain in the UK on the basis of marriage over the last 12 months. [49684]

Angela Eagle

I regret that there are no published data on decision times for individual types of spouse applications. Our aim is to decide 65 per cent of all straightforward applications on initial consideration within three weeks. Due to the exceptionally high number of applications received over the past year, and process changes which are being introduced to improve our longer term performance, it is at present taking up to six weeks to decide an application on initial consideration. We are working to reduce this to three weeks or less as soon as possible. Information on expected processing times for straightforward cases is provided to applicants on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate web site at http://194.203.40.90/defaultasp?Pageld=113.