Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 2 (General) work visas were issued for occupations in (a) accommodation and food service activities and (b) human health and social work activities in the year ended in June (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [123670]

Mr Harper, Minister of State (Immigration), Home Office: The information available, from different IT systems, relates to total grants of Tier 2 (General) visas, and to the number of certificates of sponsorship used as part of visa applications.

There were a total of 7,746 Tier 2 (General) visas granted (for all industry sectors) in the year ending June 2011; and the corresponding figure for the year ending June 2012 was 8,927.

There were 1,718 certificates of sponsorship for the industry sector ‘Accommodation and Food Service Activities’ used in Tier 2 visa applications in the year ending June 2011; and the corresponding figure for the year ending June 2012 was 438.

There were 1,957 certificates of sponsorship for the industry sector ‘Human Health and Social Work Activities’ used in Tier 2 visa applications in the year ending June 2011; and the corresponding figure for the year ending June 2012 was 1,635.

Data relating to grants of visas by Tier, and relating to certificates of sponsorship used in visa applications are published in tables ‘be.04q’ and ‘cs.02q’ respectively of the quarterly Home Office statistical release ‘Immigration Statistics’, available from the Home Office's Science, Research and Statistics website at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migrat...

| Hansard