To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone interviews with visa applicants from (a) Pakistan and (b) Afghanistan have been conducted by entry clearance officers in (i) Islamabad and (ii) Abu Dhabi since 27 October 2008. (280127)

No telephone interviews have been conducted with visa applicants from either country since 27 October. Visa section staff may contact visa applicants to clarify certain aspects of an application, and there is routine verification of supporting documents which may also result in telephone inquiries being made.