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18 Feb 2008 : Column 441W—continued
Mr. Byrne:
The Border and Immigration Agency has made no estimate of the number of foreign senior care workers who will not meet the minimum salary
requirements. It is not possible to estimate the salaries that employers will choose to offer when work permits expire in the future.
Senior care worker salary guidance was updated on 13 August 2007. More senior care worker extension applications were granted in the period August to December 2007 than in the same period in 2006.
We have reviewed the transitional measures put in place on 13 August and as a result we announced two new transitional measures on 18 January to further assist the sector in maintaining continuity of care while it adapts its recruitment practices.
We are working with the Department of Health and our Healthcare Sector Advisory Panel to monitor the situation. The Department of Health has also undertaken to provide evidence to the Migration Advisory Committee.
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether foreign nationals resident in the United Kingdom serving as diplomats for (a) the United Nations, (b) the World Health Organisation and (c) other international organisations will be required to produce biometric information documents and identity cards. [184527]
Mr. Byrne: Our intention is that the new identity cards for foreign nationals will eventually be issued to all foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control. However, diplomats and other employees who are exempt from immigration control, due to their service with the United Nations, the World Health Organisation or certain other international organisations, such as the International Monetary Fund, or the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will not be required either to provide biometric information or to apply for an identity card for foreign nationals.
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the effect on the numbers of foreign nationals seeking to enter the UK of the hosting of the 2012 Olympic games in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12. [184850]
Mr. Byrne: Most recent projections of foreign national tourism commissioned by VisitBritain and Visit London suggest no appreciable increase through to 2011. In the calendar year 2012 a 3 per cent. rise is forecast due to the 2012 games.
Between 2007 and 2012 about 37,000 athletes of all nationalities are expected to participate in events leading up to the games themselves. A number of delegations are also expected to visit Britain in connection with the Olympics.
Construction at Olympic sites will create employment, but employers are expected to fill vacancies from local labour supplies or by recruiting EEA nationals. No formal approach has been made to the Borders and Immigration Agency to recruit foreign labour.
Genetics: Databases
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what security measures exist to protect the information on the national DNA database. [181247]
Meg Hillier: Security measures on the national DNA database (NDNAD) are managed by its custodian, the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA). Direct access to information on the NDNAD is restricted to a limited number of designated personnel under the control of the custodian, either directly, or under a contract awarded by the Home Office to the Forensic Science Service (FSS) for operation and maintenance of the NDNAD and development of its IT systems. Throughout the lifetime of the contract, the FSS are required to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the International Standard for Information Security, ISO 17799.
Police and law enforcement staff do not have access to the information on the NDNAD, but receive reports from the custodian's staff of matches between DNA taken from crime scenes and that taken from individuals.
In accordance with the policy that it may assist persons interested in testing the effectiveness of the United Kingdom's IT defences, a detailed description of IT security measures cannot be provided, as this would not be in the public interest.
Human Trafficking
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has to enhance the powers of (a) border and (b) other officials to stop people on the grounds that they suspect them to be victims or perpetrators of human trafficking. [184458]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 4 February 2008]: To help meet the increased challenge from organised crime and terrorism the Prime Minister announced in November the creation of the United Kingdom Border Agency which will bring together into a single organisation the work of UKvisas, the Border and Immigration Agency and the border work of HM Revenue and Customs. The UK Border Agency will give officers the power to detain people not just on suspicion of immigration offences or for customs crime but also for other criminal activity. Powers are also being given to airline liaison officers to cancel visas where justified.
To assist in punishing facilitators or traffickers Section 31 (1) of the UK Borders Act 2007 came into force on 31 January 2008. This will give border staff powers to ensure that we can prosecute traffickers and facilitators operating anywhere within the secure areas of ports, whether they commit an act here or overseas and regardless of their nationality.
Increased training and awareness raising, including that provided by other expert organisations, means that our front-line staff are better equipped than ever to identify potential victims at an early stage.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers (a) border and (b) other officials have to stop people on the grounds that they suspect them to be victims or perpetrators of human trafficking. [184459]
Mr. Byrne
[holding answer 4 February 2008]: All people seeking entry to the United Kingdom are subject to examination by an Immigration Officer under Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971. This
provides that the officer may examine any person to ensure that they qualify for entry in accordance with the published Immigration Rules.
BIA has provided staff with guidance and training to identify victims both on entry to the United Kingdom and after.
Any passenger suspected of trafficking is referred to a Border and Immigration Agency prosecution unit, or the police, for the offence to be fully investigated. The present offences on statute to deal with traffickers include
Section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 which provides it is an offence to assist in the unlawful immigration of a non EU citizen.
Section 57 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which provides an offence of trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Section 4 (1) of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004, which provides an offence of trafficking for non sexual exploitation.
Immigration Officers have power under the Immigration Act to detain, for further examination, any person they believe is involved in the commission of any of the above offences. Furthermore, trained immigration officers also have the power to arrest any individual they have reasonable grounds to believe have committed such an offence.
Police officers and officials from the Her Majesty’s Customs and Revenue also have powers to deal with perpetrators of trafficking.
Hunting: Prosecutions
Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for hunting foxes with dogs since 2005; and what steps her Department is taking to enforce the Hunting Act 2004. [186038]
Mr. Coaker: Data showing the number of defendants proceeded against, found guilty, cautioned and fined under the Hunting Act 2004, broken down by police force area, are in the following table. The Association of Chief Police Officers has issued guidance on enforcement of the Hunting Act and the Government are continuing to work closely with the police, and other stakeholders, to identify what more can be done to ensure that there is effective and proportionate enforcement of the Hunting Act 2004.
Illegal Immigrants
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were for (i) knowingly facilitating the entry of an illegal entrant contrary to section 25(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 and (ii) assisting unlawful immigration contrary to section 25 of the Immigration Act in each quarter since 1 January 2002; and how many of those convicted received custodial sentences. [177414]
Mr. Byrne: Data showing the number of defendants proceeded against, found guilty and given custodial sentences for Section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971, from 2002 to 2006, in England and Wales, are shown in the following table.
Section 25 of the 1971 Immigration Act was amended as part of the 2002 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act. Following this change it is not possible to separate offences under Section 25(1 )(a) from any under the rest of Section 25.
Information on persons proceeded against for offences under Immigration Acts 1971 to 2004 during 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House.
| Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts under Sections 25(1)(a) and 25 of the Immigration Act 19 71 in England and Wales, 2002-0( 1,)( )( 2) —Section 25(1 )(a)—Knowingly facilitating the entry of an illegal entrant; Section 25—Assisting unlawful immigration | ||||||
| Number of persons | ||||||
| Section 25(1)(a) | Section 25 (excludes Section 25(1)(a)) | |||||
| Proceeded against | Found guilty | Immediate custody | Proceeded against | Found guilty | Immediate custody | |
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