HC Deb 24 May 2004 vol 421 cc1414-5W
Mr. Crausby

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dentists have been accepted for entry to Britain(a) under the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme and (b) through work permits in the past year. [172597]

Mr. Browne

28 Dentists were approved under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme and 131 through work permits during 2003.

Mr. Crausby

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legal professionals were accepted for entry to Britain(a) under the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme and (b) through work permits in (i) 1995. (ii) 1998, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2002 and (v) 2003. [172600]

Mr. Browne

For the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme the information is not held centrally.

For work permits, the records are only held centrally for 2001 onwards. In 2001–971 applications were approved. In 2002–693 applications were approved. In 2003–619 applications were approved.

Mr. Crausby

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to process(a) work permits and (b) highly skilled migrant applications for appointments of junior doctors to health authorities was in the last year for which figures are available; what the average time taken was for all work permits; and how many junior doctor applicants were appointed to jobs in (a) Bolton North East, (b) the Greater Manchester area and (c) England. [172622]

Mr. Browne

The information requested on work permits and the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme is not held centrally in relation to occupation and location in the UK.

In 2003 the processing times of work permits were 91 per cent. of all complete applications received were cleared in one day.