To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student visas were issued to students of each nationality in (a) 1997 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. (300390)

I refer the hon. Member to the immigration statistics due to be published on 26 November. The hon. Member may also wish to refer to the annual visa statistics already published on our Visa Services website at

www.ukvisas.gov.uk

Reliable information on student visa applications for 1997 is not available.