To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for how long the UKvisas telephone service has been suspended. (183524)

The UKvisas telephone inquiry line has been suspended since 10 September 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether alternative provision has been made to assist visa applicants following the suspension of the UKvisas telephone service. (183526)

The principle sources of information and advice for visa applicants, all of whom are overseas, are the central UKvisas website, posts’ websites, and our commercial partners’ websites and telephone inquiry lines. Some posts also have telephone inquiry services.

In the UK we now provide an enhanced e-mail service that aims to reply to e-mails within one working day. Most of these queries are from sponsors and other interested parties in the UK rather than visa applicants, who are guided to their local post or commercial partner. UKvisas website now has more and improved links. Its recorded telephone message now has more information, including referring callers to Border and Immigration Agency telephone numbers when appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to reinstate the UKvisas telephone service. (183527)

We are currently looking at the future for this service to callers from the UK and aim to conclude an internal review by the end of the financial year.