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Study Visas

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people (a) in total, (b) from Africa and (c) from each country in Africa are in possession of a visa to study in the UK. [164153]

Mr. Browne: The information requested is not available.

The tables show the available statistics for students given leave to enter the United Kingdom or granted an extension of leave to remain, 1998 to 2002. These will include students who have subsequently left the country.

Data on passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom and persons granted an extension of leave to remain in previous years are published in the Command Papers "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom" obtainable from the House Library, the Stationery Office and via the Home Office website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hobpubs1.html.
Table 1: Passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom as students⁽⁹⁶⁾, excluding EEA nationals, 1998 to 2002—United Kingdom Number of journeys

Geographical region and nationality	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Africa(97)
Algeria	530	410	520	930	670
Angola	250	250	190	270	355
Congo (Dem. Rep.)(98)	50	50	40	30	20
Egypt	1,190	1,050	1,100	1,210	920
Ethiopia	190	190	180	240	155
Ghana	970	1,320	1,800	2,460	2,890
Kenya	1,580	1,590	1,670	1,920	1,980
Libya	1,080	1,140	1,730	2,670	3,130
Mauritius	690	820	950	1,180	1,210
Morocco	650	700	660	530	535
Nigeria	1,660	2,070	2,430	3,220	4,320
Sierra Leone	100	130	190	280	355
Somalia	20	40	30	95	40
South Africa	860	1,050	1,180	1,300	1,380
Sudan	330	320	390	310	455
Tanzania	1,070	940	950	910	905
Tunisia	610	970	840	980	910
Uganda	580	670	800	990	1,290
Zambia	500	560	580	700	680
Zimbabwe	690	770	1,070	1,700	1,780
Other Africa	2,790	2,880	3,000	3,250	3,640
Africa	16,400	17,900	20,300	25,200	27,600
All nationalities(97) (excluding EEA)	266,000	272,000	313,000	339,000	369,000

⁽⁹⁶⁾ The data are of the number of journeys made; a person who makes more than one journey is counted on each occasion if given fresh leave
⁽⁹⁷⁾ Includes visa and non-visa nationals.
⁽⁹⁸⁾ The Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as Zaire.
Note:
Data rounded to three significant digits.





 
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Table 2: Grants of extensions of leave to remain in the United Kingdom as students1,2, excluding EEA nationals, 1998 to 2002—United Kingdom Number of decisions

Geographical region and nationality	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Africa(101)
Algeria	130	120	140	250	245
Angola	70	90	100	80	155
Congo (Dem. Rep.)(102)	20	20	20	30	30
Egypt	120	150	270	265	295
Ethiopia	50	60	60	50	80
Ghana	680	950	1,420	1,965	3,130
Kenya	950	1,030	1,080	1,010	1,315
Libya	720	340	690	855	1,260
Mauritius	740	780	860	890	1,280
Morocco	100	90	120	150	150
Nigeria	1,680	1,780	2,080	2,170	2,840
Sierra Leone	270	240	260	210	275
Somalia	(103)—	(103)—	10	10	5
South Africa	340	590	1,250	1,715	2,250
Sudan	150	170	170	165	200
Tanzania	570	780	920	815	1,170
Tunisia	20	30	30	30	40
Uganda	280	380	570	680	930
Zambia	520	670	830	695	640
Zimbabwe	1,350	3,320	5,070	5,810	9,075
Other Africa	1,270	1,570	2,010	2,200	3,135
Africa	10,050	13,150	17,970	20,045	28,495
All nationalities(101) (excluding EEA)	45,100	51,190	70,620	83,180	121,655

⁽⁹⁹⁾ The data are of the number of decisions; includes extensions granted to persons admitted or previously granted an extension of leave to remain
⁽¹⁰⁰⁾ Excludes dependants of principal applicants and the outcome of appeals.
⁽¹⁰¹⁾ Includes visa and non-visa nationals.
⁽¹⁰²⁾ The Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as Zaire.
⁽¹⁰³⁾ One or two.
Note:
Data rounded to the nearest five.

Sutton Inquiry

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the terms of reference of the inquiry by Ken Sutton into the operation of the    European Communities Association Agreements scheme. [166556]

Mr. Browne: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's statement of 30 March.

US Visitor Deportations

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many US visitors have been deported from the UK for incorrect information on their visa applications in the last 12 months. [168252]

Mr. Browne: US nationals who are coming to the UK as visitors/tourists do not require a visa.

In 2002 (the latest period for which data are available) 1,030 US nationals who had been refused leave to enter the UK were removed from the country.

Deportations are a specific subset of removals alongside persons subject to administrative removal, removal due to illegal entry action or those refused entry
 
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at port and subsequently removed. Information on the nationality of those people removed as a result of deportation action is not available.

Work Permits

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are undertaken by Work Permits (UK) to ensure that people whose work permits have expired leave the country. [166552]

Mr. Browne: Work Permits (UK) conducts post-issue checks, including visits to employers' premises in order to ensure that work permit holders are employed for the purpose for which the permit was issues on an intelligence led basis. Where it comes to light that a work permit holder has worked or stayed beyond the expiry of their work permit it is able to take enforcement action, including removal. Work Permits (UK) also operates an Intelligence Team who are responsible for investigating alleged work permit offences alongside enforcement officers in the Immigration Service and the National Crime Squad.

Wheel Clamping

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to regulate the (a) status, (b) prevalence and (c) activities of private security firms which wheel clamp licensed road vehicles on (i) public and (ii) private land; [167296]

(2) what timetable he has set to bring forward regulations in respect of private companies which wheel clamp licensed vehicles for enforcement purposes under the provisions of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. [167297]

Ms Blears: On current plans the Security Industry Authority (SIA) propose to commence the licensing of wheel clampers at the end of 2004. Details of the licensing criteria are currently being finalised and are likely to include an identity check, a criminal records check for relevant previous convictions, and a check on the applicant's professional competence to do the job.
 
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The Private Security Industry Act 2001 also provides for the establishment of an approved contractor scheme by the SIA. The timetable for the introduction of the scheme is under consideration by the Authority.

The 2001 Act does not regulate wheel-clamping on public roads. Under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1991, local authorities may clamp vehicles that infringe parking regulations on public roads or in local authority off-street car parks. Only a parking attendant, as defined in section 63A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, may authorise such vehicle clamping, although a private contractor may be used to place the clamp on the vehicle. Under sections 71 and 72 of the   1991 Act the owner of a vehicle may make representations to the relevant local authority and subsequently appeal to an independent parking adjudicator about the clamping of the vehicle.

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