asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made for entry visas in India in each year since 1979; and how many were granted in each year to the latest date.
The information requested is given in the following table:
| Applications in India for entry clearance to the United Kingdom1 | ||
| Number of persons | ||
| Applications received2 | Applications granted | |
| 1979 | 24,510 | 20,180 |
| 1980 | 18,110 | 17,010 |
| 1981 | 14,640 | 13,910 |
| 1982 | 11,320 | 9,810 |
| 1983 | 11,100 | 8,650 |
| 1984 | 9,870 | 8,000 |
| 1985 | 8,020 | 6,440 |
| 1986 | 29,500 | 26,230 |
| 1 For settlement or temporary purposes | ||
| 2 Including applications which were subsequently withdrawn | ||
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants were employed in his Department dealing with visa applications from (a) Commonwealth and (b) non-Commonwealth countries in each year since 1979 to the latest available date.
Many staff in the Immigration and Nationality Department carry out interviews and deal with inquiries relating to applications for visas and other forms of entry clearance as part of their general duties, but their numbers cannot readily be assessed. Since Autumn 1986, four members of staff of the Immigration and Nationality Department have been engaged on the issue of re-entry visas. In addition staff of the passport department have been engaged on the issue of re-entry visas as follows:
| 1984–85 | 1985–86 | 1986–87 |
| 17 | 21 | 22 |