| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
14 Nov 2007 : Column 301W—continued
Chinese Community: Greater London
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained as alleged illegal migrants as a result of the Border and Immigration Agency raid in Chinatown on 11 October; how many of those people were released, as legal workers; what the longest period was a detainee was held; how many (a) remain in detention, (b) await removal and (c) have been removed; which countries and regions the people detained were from, broken down by country or region; and if she will make a statement. [162700]
Mr. Byrne: 49 subjects were initially detained on suspicion of being immigration offenders, comprising 36 Chinese, 11 Malaysian, one Vietnamese and one Hong Kong. Four were released on the same day as they were found to be working legally and 10 Malaysian nationals have been removed. The remaining subjects are in detention awaiting removal.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Border and Immigration Agency staff and (b) police officers were involved in the Chinatown raid on 11 October; and if she will make a statement. [162701]
Mr. Byrne: 58 Border and Immigration Agency staff and approximately 50 police officers attended the operation.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what documents restaurateurs involved in the raids by the Border and Immigration Agency on 11 October were asked to sign; and if she will make a statement. [162702]
Mr. Byrne: Restaurateurs were asked to sign the ‘notification of potential liability’ section in the section 8 Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 Illegal Working Visit Record Book.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on the meeting attended by Border and Immigration Agency officials in Chinatown on 18 October. [162703]
Mr. Byrne: Border and Immigration Agency staff attended an open meeting at the Chinese Community Centre on 18 October to listen to the concerns of the community and explain the process and objectives of the operation. As a result of this meeting a series of workshops with local employers will be held.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on the protest in London's Chinatown which involved closure of several restaurants on 18 October; and if she will make a statement. [162704]
Mr. Byrne:
It was recognised that the operation could result in some community tension as the Border and Immigration Agency had not conducted visits in Chinatown for some time. The London and south-east regional community cohesion team had already engaged with the London Chinese community centre
on more general agency matters, and this team revisited the community after the operation to address its concerns. We have also liaised with the Metropolitan police Chinatown community team and agreed a community impact plan.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what stage those detained on 11 October during the raid in London's Chinatown by the Border and Immigration Agency were afforded access to legal advice; and if she will make a statement. [162705]
Mr. Byrne: Those detained at police stations had access to the duty solicitor, if desired, following the booking-in process. It is part of police process to inform prisoners of their right to legal advice. Those held in Border and Immigration Agency accommodation had access to public telephones to contact a representative of their choice.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will meet the London Chinatown Chinese Association to discuss immigration issues. [162706]
Mr. Byrne: Officials are already in contact with the London Chinatown Chinese Association and we are working with them to address a range of immigration issues including provision of workshops for local employers on the legal requirements surrounding the employment of migrant workers.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long those detained following the raids in London's Chinatown on 11 October were held before they were given (a) food and (b) drink; and if she will make a statement. [162707]
Mr. Byrne: Prisoners at police stations were held in accordance with PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) Codes of Practice and were offered refreshments in line with this act. Detainees in Border and Immigration Agency accommodation were provided with food and drinks within three hours of their arrival.
Crime Prevention: Crimes of Violence
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to issue her next policy document on the reduction of violent crime. [162167]
Mr. Coaker: We are currently working on the development of a new policy document on tackling violence, which we expect to issue within the next three months.
Departmental Freedom of Information
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of freedom of information requests granted by her Department in 2006 made a full disclosure of the information or documents requested within the statutory 20 working days. [163040]
Mr. Byrne: In 2006 there were 2,868 requests for information held. The Department held information in 1,785 cases. Responses to 796 of these requests resulted in information being disclosed in full and 79 per cent. of these were responded to within the statutory 20 working days. Further information on the Department's performance can be found in the Ministry of Justice's second annual report on the operation of the FOI Act in central Government 2006. This can be found at:
A copy is also available in the Library.
Departmental Manpower
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Welsh speakers her Department employs. [162887]
Mr. Byrne: The Home Office does not collect information about the number of Welsh speakers within the Department.
Deportation: Sudan
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Government has made of the safety for refugees and asylum seekers of returning them to Sudan. [162171]
Mr. Byrne: We are aware of recent allegations by the Aegis Trust regarding the treatment of failed asylum seekers who have returned to Sudan. We are taking the allegations very seriously and we are investigating them thoroughly.
On 4 October, the House of Lords heard an appeal brought by the Home Office on whether it is reasonable to return unsuccessful asylum seekers to Khartoum, where the Court of Appeal has found no risk of persecution. The judgment is expected shortly.
There are no enforced returns of failed asylum seekers currently planned before the House of Lords judgment is expected.
Entry Clearances
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review the rules on issuing travel documents to UK residents who are nationals of states without functioning agencies dealing with the issuance of passports or travel documents in the state itself or in its overseas representations. [162045]
Mr. Byrne: The Border and Immigration Agency does not consider it necessary to review the rules on issuing travel documents to UK residents who are nationals of states without functioning agencies dealing with the issuance of passports or travel documents in the state itself or in its overseas representations.
Entry Clearances: Employment
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the number of dependents accompanying A8 nationals working in the UK. [162670]
Mr. Byrne: Information concerning the actual number of dependants accompanying A8 nationals is published quarterly in The Accession Monitoring Report.
This report currently gives data from one May 2004 to 30 June 2007. The information you require is published in table five of the report, at the following link:
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/accession_ monitoring_report
I will arrange for a copy of the report to be deposited in the House Libraries.
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the likely change in the number of non-EU workers given leave to enter the UK as a result of the introduction of (a) the points-based system and (b) the measures contained in Her Majesty’s Gracious Speech; and over what timescale she expects such changes to take place. [162671]
Mr. Byrne: We are introducing the points-based system during 2008 and 2009 so that only those the UK needs can come to work or study. When we set the ‘pass mark’ we will take advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee on where in the economy migration can sensibly fill skills gaps, and the Migration Impacts Forum on the wider impacts of migration.
Entry Clearances: Somalia
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider revising the rules on issuing travel documents to Somali nationals who are resident in the UK as dependants of EEA nationals. [162044]
Mr. Byrne: The Border and Immigration Agency does not consider it necessary to revise the rules on issuing travel documents to Somali nationals who are resident in the UK as dependents of EEA nationals.
Freedom of Information
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many freedom of information requests her Department and its agencies received in the latest year for which figures are available; [163038]
(2) how many requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 her Department turned down in the last year; and for what reasons. [163039]
Mr. Byrne: The information requested was published in the Ministry of Justice's second annual report on the operation of the FOI Act in central Government 2006. This can be found at:
A copy is also available in the Library.
Immigration Controls
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which elements of the Government’s points-based immigration system require further primary legislation; and if she will make a statement. [163041]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 12 November 2007]: None. We are satisfied that existing primary legislation (including the UK Borders Act 2007) gives us all the powers we need to operate the PBS.
Immigration Controls: Asia
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the impact on (a) Chinese and (b) South Asia migrants of the new points-based system for migration, with particular reference to the need to recruit skilled and experienced staff. [162870]
Mr. Byrne: No estimate has been made of the impact of the Points-Based System (PBS) on Chinese and South Asia Migrants. One of the key objectives of the Points-Based System is the better identifying and attracting of migrants that are of benefit to the United Kingdom, wherever they come from. Equality impact assessments will ensure there is no bias in the system. UKvisas are working through their posts in the region to communicate messages on PBS in a clear and timely fashion to ensure we do continue to attract migrants with the skills the UK needs.
Immigration Officers: Heathrow Airport
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department and the Border and Immigration Agency have made about the manpower requirements for the immigration service at Heathrow airport on the opening of Terminal 5; what plans her Department has to meet those requirements; and if she will make a statement. [163774]
Mr. Byrne: Staff will be allocated across the five terminals at Heathrow according to business need and a timed plan is being drawn up in line with BAA information on planned airline relocations. This will ensure that BIA staffing resources are deployed appropriately to meet passenger traffic levels across Heathrow following the opening of Terminal 5.
Immigration: Somalia
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Border and Immigration Agency about the application process which Somali nationals resident in the UK are required to undergo to obtain travel documents. [163089]
Mr. Byrne: The Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Border and Immigration Agency about the application process which Somali nationals resident in the UK are required to undergo to obtain travel documents. Somali nationals are subject to the same application process as the nationals of any country which does not issue its citizens with passports in the UK.
Immobilisations of Vehicles
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations she has received, and from whom, on the operation of wheel clampers operating on car parks and private land; and if she will bring forward legislation in this regard; [163340]
(2) if she will take steps to regulate the size of the signs and warnings necessary before wheel clampers operating on car parks and private land can immobilise motor vehicles. [163341]
Mr. Coaker: The Home Office receives frequent correspondence on issues relating to vehicle immobilisation on private land.
The Home Office is considering with relevant stakeholders reviewing policy on the regulation of vehicle immobilisers. Such a review could include the issue of signage. This work is, however, at an early stage and no decision has been made. No commitment can be made to any timescales at present.
The Department for Transport plans to issue guidance to local authorities on parking policy and enforcement in the new year and this will include guidance relating to vehicle immobilisation on public land.
Information: Airports
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors were taken into account in determining the format of the notices posted in airports for incoming passengers at the UK’s borders. [163686]
Mr. Byrne: As part of a communication campaign during Summer 2007 posters were placed across those ports with the highest passenger footfalls to help ensure the travelling public was aware that the UK border was being strengthened through tougher checks and that they should prepare for a longer wait to have their travel documents checked by immigration officers. The posters were displayed at various sites including passport control, arrivals and departures with a simple message of ‘tougher checks can take longer’.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |