To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are issued to case decision-makers in the Borders and Immigration Agency on the economic and social consequences for applicants for indefinite leave to remain of the time taken to make decisions on individual applications. (177616)

There is no specific guidance issued to caseworkers on the economic and social consequences of time taken to process a decision on Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications.

The Border and Immigration Agency have time based targets for dealing with such applications, the majority of which are met. Targets that are 70 per cent. of all decisions on in time applications requesting indefinite leave to remain are made within 20 days of receipt and that 90 per cent. are decided within 70 days.