HC Deb 20 November 2002 vol 394 cc131-3W
Mr. Lilley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign spouses and fianc(e)s were admitted to live in the UK with their British spouses in each year from 1990. [80708]

Beverley Hughes

The available information on the number of spouses admitted to the United Kingdom in each year from 1990 is given in the table.

It is not possible to identify separately those people who were admitted to live in the United Kingdom with a spouse who was a British citizen from those admitted to join a spouse who had settled in the United Kingdom but was not a British citizen.

Category and nationality 1996 19973 1998 1999 20004 20014
Male fiancés
Europe2 90 130 105 120 100 60
Americas 160 195 175 140 160 105
Africa 80 105 140 130 100 85
Indian sub-continent 100 185 215 220 240 235
Other Asia 70 70 90 75 55 65
Oceania 80 95 125 100 90 60
Other nationalities 5— 5 5 5 5 —
All nationalities2 580 785 855 795 750 610
Wives
Europe2 1,040 1,165 1,410 1,990 1,745 1,345
Americas 1,670 1,740 1,950 2,520 1,955 1,255
Africa 1,070 1,370 1,895 2,300 2,235 2,165
Indian sub-continent 5,740 6,645 8,010 6,525 8,700 8,495
Other Asia 1,880 2,250 2,665 2,980 3,310 3,480
Oceania 790 900 1,100 1,305 1,145 1,060
Other nationalities 50 50 35 50 45 60
All nationalities2 12,200 14,120 17,070 17,670 19,140 17,860
Female fiancées
Europe2 400 485 560 665 670 445
Americas 400 445 450 490 510 255
Africa 120 105 150 130 130 115
Indian sub-continent 250 200 305 285 310 295
Other Asia 430 520 710 740 725 595
Oceania 110 130 145 140 110 70
Other nationalities 10 5 10 10 10 5
All nationalities2 1,710 1,880 2,330 2,460 2,475 1,775
1 Husbands and wives seeking settlement, and fiancé(e)s, are given leave to enter for a limited period (apart from certain wives who are

entitled to settlement on arrival). Settlement is granted after a year's probationary period; for those admitted as fiancé(e)s the

probationary period starts after marriage.
2 Excludes EC nationals up to 1993 and EEA nationals since 1994.
3 Figures prior to 1997 rounded to three significant figures, figures from 1997 rounded to five.
4 A change in procedures may have resulted in some under-recording in the fourth quarter of 2000 and the first quarter of 2001.
5 Negligible ie five or fewer.
'—' Not available