TNAG-2198-FCO40-3152-Hong-Kong-nationality-spouses-and-widows-of-British-expatria-1990 — Page 137

ANNEX C

139

Written Answers

22 MAY 1990

Mr. Peter Lloyd: The information requested will not become available until draft electoral registers for 1991-92 Are published, on or before 28 November of this year. ⠀

Bevonat de Metropolitan Police

737

1.

Sir John Wheeler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the national and international policing functions which are exercised by the Metropolitan police or in premises under their control; and if he will describe the funding arrangements for each.

J

Mr. Peter Lloyd: I will write to the hon. Member.

Immigration oli clays, feat

!

Mr. Channon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the criteria adopted under the present immigration rules in deciding whether the non-United Kingdom spouse of a United Kingdom citizen has the right to settle in the United Kingdom;

(2) whether the non-United Kingdom spouses of British citizens have an absolute right to enter the United Kingdom under the immigration rules;

(3) what right the non-United Kingdom spouse of a United Kingdom citizen who has lived in the United Kingdom for a period of three years has to settle in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Peter Lloyd: Under the immigration rules, a person who wishes to settle in the United Kingdom with a spouse who is a British citizen must hold a current entry clearance granted for that purpose. An applicant must satisfy the entry clearance officer:

a. that the marriage was not entered into primarily to obtain permission to the United Kingdom; and

.:

b. that each of the parties has the intention of living permanently with the other as his or her spouse;

and

c. that the parties to the marriage have met; and d. that there will be adequate accommodation for the parties and their dependents without recourse to public funds in accommodation of their own or which they occupy themselves; and

e. that the parties will be able to maintain themselves and their dependents adequately without recourse to public funds.

A person holding an entry clearance issued for this purpose is normally admitted for an initial period of 12 months and granted settlement at the end of that period provided that the conditions are still met.

The spouse of a British citizen may apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after three years' residence in the United Kingdom. Naturalisation is at the discretion of the Secretary of State. Among other requirements set out in schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981, applicants must be of full age and capacity, good character, and meet specified periods of residence in the United Kingdom.

In 1989, 320 spouses and finance(e)s resident in Hong Kong were granted entry clearances to settle in the United Kingdom on the basis of marriage to British citizens and six applications were refused.

Concessionary Television Licences

Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the definition of a common and exclusive boundary, in connection with the regulations covering concessionary television licences for old people.

71 CW53/25 Job 5-5

Written Answers

140

Mr. Mellor: The Wireless Telegraphy (Broadcast Licence Charges and Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1988 require that for the occupants to qualify for concessionary television licences sheltered accom- modation most, amongst other things, comprise a group of at least four dwellings "within a common and exclusive boundary". This is not further defined in statute. Each application is considered on its merits. Bearing in mind the intention of the regulations that only sheltered accom- modation which is directly comparable to residential homes should qualify.

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¿: Animal Experiments

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to assure himself that experiments carried out by Professor Wilhelm Feldberg and his staff were in accordance with the project licence provided by the Home Office under section 5 of the Animal Scientific Procedures Act 1986.

Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 14 May 1990]: My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has been sent a report and an edited video recording concerned with, amongst other matters, alleged failures of Professor Feldberg's anaesthetic techniques. This material has been passed to the inspectorate and a report will also be prepared for the Animal Procedures committee. The licences held by Professor Feldberg and his assistant were revoked earlier at their request.

HEALTH

Hospital Accident and Emergency Units

Ms. Gordon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospital accident and emergency units open in December 1989.

Mr. Dorrell: The information which has been placed in the Library shows (a) the 418 hospital sites which reported that on 31 March 1989 they had an accident and emergency department open a full seven days a week and (b) the 91 who reported that they had an accident and emergency department open less than a full seven days per week.

(Note:-Data on hours of opening were not received on 2 accident and emergency departments, Hemel Hempstead hospital, NW Herts DHA and St. Richards, Chichester DHA.)

Community Care

11/03

Ms. Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next expects to meet the Association of Directors of Social Services to discuss community care.

#301 1

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: I hold regular formal and informal meetings with the ADSS No firm date has been arranged for the next meeting.

SPOR

Ambulance Service (Crewe and Nantwich) Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will initiate an immediate inquiry into the response times of the ambulance service in the Crewe and Nantwich area;

(2) if he will take steps to ensure that sufficient funding is made available to Mersey regional health authority to