asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many applications made in Tbilisi, Georgia, for visas for entry into the United Kingdom have been refused in the last three years. [HL2455]

The total number of visa applications refused from our embassy in Tbilisi in each of the last three years is provided below. The total number of visas issued in each year is also shown.

2005—886 refused; 3,293 issued;

2006—720 refused; 3,852 issued; and

2007—871 refused; 4,291 issued.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total gross revenue in sterling from visa applications at the embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, in each of the last three years; and what proportion of that income has been returned to applicants. [HL2356]

The total revenue in sterling from visa applications received by our embassy in Tbilisi in each of the last three financial years (FY) is as follows:

FY 2005-06—£244,379.47

FY 2006-07—£295,965.44

FY 2007-08 (to date)—£448,907.06.

Data regarding the proportion of the income returned to applicants are not held centrally and it would incur disproportionate cost to collate this information.