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28 Feb 2006 : Column 652W—continued
Police Stations
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations have closed in (a) Islington North and (b) Greater London in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [49419]
Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of Police informs me that no police stations have been closed in Islington North in the last three years. Greater London has seen three police stations closed and replaced in 2003–04, with an additional closure in 2005–06.
Visas
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 50 countries of origin for which the most work visas were granted in each of the last seven years. [53786]
Dr. Howells: I have been asked to reply.
(21) Financial year
(22) Calendar year
28 Feb 2006 : Column 653W
UKvisas, the department with responsibility for entry clearance matters overseas, is unable to provide statistics for 1999 or 1998 as requested. The statistics for the number of work permit applications received, issued or refused were not specifically collated prior to 2000, and were published only as a component part of figures for non-settlement visa applications.
The table is based on work permit applications made at those posts only. It is not possible to provide statistics on the country of origin of the applicant, though in general, applicants for work permits are expected to apply in the country of which they are either a national or legally resident.
The figures that provided the base for this answer for the years 2001–02 onwards are available on the UKvisas website along with other entry clearance statistics at www.ukvisas.gov.uk—"Entry clearance: facts and figures".
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals (a) applied for and (b) were granted holiday work visas in each of the last seven years. [53788]
Dr. Howells:
I have been asked to reply.
28 Feb 2006 : Column 654W
The number of individuals who have applied for and been granted working holidaymaker visas in the last five years only, is as follows:
| Applications received | Visas issued | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000(23) | 45,448 | 40,351 |
| 2001–2(24) | 49,452 | 46,078 |
| 2002–3(24) | 53,238 | 49,365 |
| 2003–4(24) | 77,400 | 59,822 |
| 2004–5(24) | 88,957 | 69,504 |
(23) Calendar year
(24) Financial year
UKvisas, the department with responsibility for entry clearance matters overseas, is unable to provide statistics for 1999 or 1998 as requested. The number of working holidaymaker permit applications received, issued or refused were not specifically collated prior to 2000, and were published only as a component part of figures for non-settlement visa applications.
The figures for the financial years 2001–02 onwards are available on the UKvisas website along with other entry clearance statistics at www.ukvisas.gov.uk—"Entry clearance: facts and figures".
28 Feb 2006 : Column 655W
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Video Conferencing
34. Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will provide video conference facilities between hon. Members' offices on the parliamentary estate and their constituency offices. [53994]
Nick Harvey: A portable video conference facility has for some time been available for use by hon. Members in several of the meeting and committee rooms in Portcullis House. This equipment is due to be renewed shortly. Arrangements are also in place for the use of commercial web-based video conferencing services. Hon. Members need to acquire appropriate cameras to use this type of service, and enter into an agreement with a service provider. The parliamentary ICT service can advise on the options available.
In the longer term, Westminster office to constituency office video conferencing options are being considered as part of a larger initiative intended to improve IT services to constituencies, including their links with Westminster. This project has completed an initial phase of research.
Car Parking
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission (1) how many hon. Members' cars have been parked in House car parks for more than (a) three months and (b) six months in the last 12 months; [53752]
(2) how many hon. Members have parked more than one vehicle at a time in House car parks in the last 12 months. [53753]
Nick Harvey: The House authorities are aware of one hon. Member who has had a vehicle parked in House car parks for more than six months. Information on parking by hon. Members of more than one vehicle at a time is not recorded on a regular basis. The regulations governing the use of the car park must be enforced so that other Members are not inconvenienced by improper use of car parking space.
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