Written question asked by Lord Risby (Conservative) on Wednesday, 28 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 3 April 2001. It was answered by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 April 2001 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list, in respect of each visa application approved, following initial refusal by the Minister for Europe, (a) the name of the honourable Member in whose constituency the applicant's sponsor lived, (b) the grounds stated in the notice of refusal on which the application was initially refused, (c) if (i) a second and (ii) a subsequent interview was conducted following the Minister of State's intervention, (d) the written terms under which the Minister of State instructed the entry clearance post to issue the visa, (e) if, after the original refusal, the entry clearance post stated that they continued to believe that the entry clearance should be refused, (f) if the applicant (1) overstayed the terms laid down in the leave to remain granted when they first arrive in the UK and (2) subsequently extended their stay and (g) if entry clearance posts notified the Migration and Visa Division (A) orally and (B) in writing of their concerns over the Minister's decisions to reverse visa refusals. - Inc ref to 22 March 2001, 365 c316-7W. (Holding answer 2 April 2001).

Answer: Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, in respect of each visa application approved, following initial refusal by the Minister for Europe, (a) the name of the hon. Member in whose constituency the applicant's sponsor lived, (b) the grounds stated in the notice of refusal on which the application was initially refused, (c) if (i) a second and (ii) a subsequent interview was conducted following the Minister of State's intervention, (d) the written terms under which the Minister of State instructed the entry clearance post to issue the visa, (e) if, after the original refusal, the entry clearance post stated that they continued to believe that the entry clearance should be refused, (f) if the applicant (1) overstayed the terms laid down in the leave to remain granted when they first arrive in the UK and (2) subsequently extended their stay and (g) if entry clearance posts notified the Migration and Visa Division (A) orally and (B) in writing of their concerns over the Minister's decisions to reverse visa refusals. [156527] Mr. Vaz: [holding answer 2 April 2001]: It is not our practice to comment on individual visa cases. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 22 March 2001, Official Report, columns 316-17W

Secondary information