asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees about the tardiness in processing applications for entry visas for political prisoners from South America and about the small proportion of applications granted following the statement by Her Majesty's Government to the European Council that the United Kingdom would be prepared to accept 1,000 refugees from that area.
I have received representations from the Representative in London of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, M. Heidler, about the time taken to process applications from refugees in Argentina to come to the United Kingdom. These and other complaints have been fully investigated and M. Heidler has recently confirmed that United Nations officials in Buenos Aires now accept that the applications have been processed there with all the speed that could reasonably be expected.My right hon. Friend made no statement in the European Council to the effect suggested in the Question.