§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average period of time taken to process a visa application from a person seeking to study in the UK was in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [31223]
530WImmigration Act 1971 sec. 25(1) (a), (b) and (c) as amended by the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 Sec.5.
Statistics for 2001 are not yet available.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has already indicated his intention to increase the maximum penalty for these offences to 14 years, and a range of further measures are under consideration.
§ Mr. BradshawI have been asked to reply.
We do not record separate statistics on processing times for visa applications received from students. They are included in the visitors category.
Straightforward applications from students and other visitors would normally be processed within 24 hours. During 2001 on average 94 per cent. of straightforward applications received were processed within 24 hours.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications made by those hoping to study here have been turned down in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [31224]
§ Mr. BradshawI have been asked to reply.
531WThe number of student visa application refused are as follows:
Number 1997 9,309 1998 9,654 1999 11,503 2000 20,105 2001 16,005 1 The figures for 2001 are for January–March 2001. We collect these statistics only on an annual basis. Future statistics will be on a financial year basis and are due to be collected during April 2002.