§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who applied under the regularisation scheme for overstayers have had their cases(a) decided, (b) granted, (c) refused and (d) not yet considered; and what the target date for completing consideration of applications is. [42960]
§ Angela EagleA total of 17,120 applications were received by the closing date. In response to a ministerial commitment caseworking staff have been asked to consider applications in a phased way. Resources have been invested during the current financial year to sift all applications in order to speedily identify all those cases where leave to remain can be granted under existing policy concessions. Indications are that this target will be met, and so far approximately 1,200 cases have been granted indefinite leave to remain.
During the next financial year (2002–03) more caseworkers and resources will be devoted to substantive consideration of the remaining cases. The target date for the consideration of all cases is April 2003.