Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 9 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 May 2006. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 May 2006 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Visas

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her policy is on the issuing of visas to enter the UK to individuals who were closely associated with the previous regime in Iraq.

Answer: All applications are assessed on their individual merits and applicants must show that they meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules. Officials will check existing records for all applications and take any information held into consideration when making a decision on the entry clearance application. There is provision in the Immigration Rules for refusal on the grounds that an applicant would be considered not conducive to the public good. The degree to which an individual was associated with the former regime in Iraq could be relevant to this.

Secondary information