To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the forms of visa available to persons who wish to come to the UK; and how many, broken down by category, have been granted in each of the last four years. [115227]

[holding answer 22 May 2003]: Data are not available for each of the last four years on the number of visas that have been issued to persons wishing to come to the United Kingdom in each of the categories allowed for in the Immigration Rules. It is not possible to obtain this information, except at disproportionate cost.The table summarises the number of entry clearance applications to the United Kingdom which have been granted for temporary purposes, such as tourists and students and for settlement, between 1997 and 2000.

Year	Granted for temporary purposes	Granted for settlement
1997	1,243,450	40,320
1998	1,255,915	47,540
1999	1,313,120	46,000
2000	1,424,880	54,505

More recent data on entry clearance applications are not yet available. Entry clearance is an inclusive term which covers entry certificates (for non visa nationals) and family permits (for EEA nationals), as well as visas (for visa nationals).