§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of each Commonwealth country(a) how many applications for entry clearance as a working holidaymaker have been received since 1 January, (b) how many of the applications were refused, (c) what percentage of the applications were successful and (d) what percentage of the applications were refused. [132981]
§ Mr. MullinWorldwide statistics for all working holidaymaker visas are collated by financial year (1 April-31 March) only and are not available on a monthly basis.
During the financial year 2002–03 the worldwide figures for the number of working holidaymaker visa applications that were received, issued and refused, and their percentages were as follows:
Worldwide working holidaymaker statistics for FY 2002–03 Number Percentage Applications received 53,234 — Applications issued 49,361 92.73 Applications refused 3,301 6.20 Applications outstanding1 572 1.07 1 Applications outstanding include those: where the application was brought forward into the next accounting period before being resolved. Applications can also be withdrawn during processing and still count as an application received. Numbers of successful applications and entry clearances issued may also not match up because of the way entry clearances are issued: a mother and three children on one passport may count as four applications, but one entry clearance may be issued.