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The data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister with responsibility for entry clearance last visited (a) Tirana, (b) Kiev and (c) Chisinau. [317917]

Mr. Woolas: To date I have not visited the visa sections in Tirana, Kiev and Chisinau.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on average how long it took for an explanatory statement relating to a visa decision to be sent to London from (a) Tirana, (b) Kiev and (c) Chisinau in the latest period for which figures are available. [317918]

Mr. Woolas: During 2009, the average length of time that it took for an Entry Clearance Officer's explanatory statement to be sent to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal from our visa sections in (a) Tirana, (b) Kiev and (c) Chisinau following receipt of an appeal, was as follows:


23 Feb 2010 : Column 444W
Average time to despatch Explanatory Statements-2009

 Weeks

Tirana

10

Kiev

8

Chisinau

10


Entry Clearances: Married People

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applications for spouse settlement visas was rejected in each of the last five years; how much revenue accrued in fees in respect of reapplications; and what the percentage increase in fee charges was in each of the last five years. [317561]

Mr. Woolas [holding answer 22 February 2010]: The following table shows the percentage of applications for spouse/civil partner settlement visas that were refused in each of the last five financial years:

FY Percentage refused

2004-05

15

2005-06

16

2006-07

16

2007-08

19

2008-09

21

Source:
Internal management information-International Group

Revenue accrued in respect of re-submissions cannot be provided as it is not possible to extract this information from the recording system.

The following table shows the percentage increase for fee charges for spouse settlement visas in each of the last five financial years.

 Percentage fee increase Fee (£)

2004-05

0

260

2005-06

0

260

2006-07

0

260

2007-08

92

500

2008-09

3

515

Source:
Published Fee Rates

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many tier 4 student applications are pending in each consulate in the Indian sub-continent as a result of the suspension of processing; how many dependants are included in such applications; whether such applications will be considered against the criteria in force at the time of their application or under the new criteria; and whether applicants enrolled in education institutions which have subsequently had their licence to sponsor suspended or revoked will be refused a visa. [317851]

Mr. Woolas: The suspension of tier 4 student visa applications in north India, Bangladesh and Nepal on 1 February means that we are not accepting any new applications in this category. No applications, including those from dependants, are therefore pending as a result of the suspension.


23 Feb 2010 : Column 445W

Applications submitted before 1 February are being processed as normal against the criteria in force at the time of their application.

The suspension will be lifted in north India from 1 March for tier 4 students intending to undertake higher education courses (foundation degree, undergraduate, postgraduate).

Applicants intending to study at educational institutions which have had their sponsor licence subsequently revoked will not meet the requirements for entry and will be refused a visa. In cases where the sponsor licence has been suspended, a decision on the visa application will be deferred until a decision is made on whether to revoke or re-instate the licence.

Firearms and Explosives: Licensing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates were issued for (a) firearms and (b) explosives in each year since 1998. [317759]

Alan Johnson: Available data on firearm and shotgun certificates granted in England and Wales relating to new and renewal applications are given on Table A. These are taken from the most recent Home Office Statistical Bulletin on firearm certificates, which is available at:

Due to the transition from in-force data collection systems to the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) in 2006, firearm certificates data for 2006-07 are not available centrally. Data for 2008-09 are scheduled for publication on 25 March 2010.

Available information on explosive certificates granted by police forces in England and Wales for acquisition and keeping and acquisition only relates to the period 1998 to 2005-06 and is given in Table B. Data from 2006-07 to 2008-09 cannot be provided due to disproportionate cost. The Home Office ceased collection of explosive certificates data in 2009-10.

Table A: Firearm and shotgun certificates granted, new and renewal applications: England and Wales, 1998 to 2007-08
Number (rounded)
Firearms Shotguns

 New applications Renewal applications New applications Renewal applications

1998

5,900

(1)1,600

16,900

(1)6,600

1999

5,000

(1)250

15,600

(1)2,500

2000

5,900

26,200

18,200

141,300

2001

7,100

31,300

22,700

162,400

2002

8,600

28,800

25,600

152,700

2002-03

8,600

25,100

26,100

125,200

2003-04

7,700

(1)4,100

22,500

(1)13,500

2004-05

9,100

(1)8,300

23,400

(1)46,600

2005-06

8,600

29,100

25,200

141,100

2006-07(2)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

2007-08

11,600

30,200

32,400

123,800

n/a denotes figures not available
(1) The extension of the period of the certificates from three years to five years in 1995 meant that no renewals were due in 1998 and 1999. Those shown are delayed applications from 1997. Figures for 2003-04 and 2004-05 also reflect the renewal cycle change.
(2) Figures are not available due to the transition from in-force data collection systems to the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) in 2006.

23 Feb 2010 : Column 446W

Table B :Explosive certificates granted for acquisition and keeping and acquisition only, new and renewal applications: England and Wales, 1998 to 2005-06
Acquisition and keeping Acquisition only

 New applications Renewal applications New applications Renewal applications

1998

1,644

1,843

761

1,366

1999

713

1,340

627

1,452

2000

1,016

2,069

703

1,597

2001

699

2,292

622

1,733

2002

694

1,678

714

1,736

2002-03

647

1,571

662

1,600

2003-04(1)

552

1,997

664

1,444

2004-05

501

2,223

698

1,603

2005-06(2)

456

1,776

695

1,491

(1) Excludes data from Metropolitan, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire police forces.
(2) Excludes data from Hertfordshire police.

Football Banning Orders

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many football banning orders were (a) issued and (b) breached in each year since 2003. [317835]

Alan Johnson: The data requested are gathered and reported in accordance with the period of a football season rather than calendar year. The following table provides the number of football banning orders imposed during each football season since 2003-04 and the number of arrests for breach of an order. The data provide no distinction between low-level technical breaches or a substantive breach involving attempted attendance at a regulated football match at home or abroad.

Number of football banning orders (a) issued and (b) breached in each football season since 2003-04
Football season Football banning orders issued Arrests for breach of football banning order

2003-04

1,263

63

2004-05

970

60

2005-06

995

39

2006-07

644

56

2007-08

1,048

80

2008-09

956

84

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