Somali People (Entry Clearance)

HC Deb 15 September 2003 vol 410 cc595-6W

Jeremy Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are made at UK diplomatic posts in(a) Kenya and (b) Ethiopia for entry clearance applications to be made by Somali people to travel to the UK. [129743]

Mr. Mullin

Due to a specific threat, our High Commission in Nairobi has introduced security restrictions to those entering the High Commission compound.

As a result, the Visa Section is currently only able to accept applications for entry clearance from those who hold appropriate documentation confirming their nationality and identity.

The documents currently accepted by the High Commission in Nairobi are: national passports issued by a competent authority of a Government recognised by the British Government; stateless documents issued by a competent authority of a Government recognised by the British Government; and Kenyan national identity cards. This requirement applies to all visitors to the High Commission and is not aimed specifically at a particular nationality. However, since the collapse of the central authority in Somalia in 1991, there has been no reliable body authorised to issue marriage or birth certificates, passports or any other form of identification. Therefore, these restrictions affect the majority of Somali nationals who wish to apply at our Visa Section in Nairobi for entry clearance to the UK.

The High Commission is keeping the security situation under close review and the restrictions will be in place no longer than necessary. However, UK visas and the Visa Section in Nairobi are actively reviewing the procedures to try and identify ways for Somali nationals without documentation to submit applications that are compatible with maintaining security.

Our embassy in Addis Ababa does not face the same security issues as our High Commission in Nairobi. The Visa Section in Addis Ababa is able to accept applications from all Somali nationals, even those without documents. Applications can be made in person or through an agent. Applicants are then allocated a date to attend the Visa Section for an interview.