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26 Nov 2008 : Column 2265W—continued
Identity Cards: Public Opinion
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many items of correspondence her Department has received on identity cards and the national identity database in the last two years; and how many expressed (a) support for and (b) opposition to the Government's policy. [235789]
Meg Hillier: The Identity and Passport Services has received 3,073 items of correspondence regarding identity cards and the National Identity Register from 1 November 2006 to 31 October 2008.
With regard to the content of that correspondence, I would refer the right hon. Member to the response given to the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald), on 6 November 2008, Official Report, column 638W.
Identity Cards: Standards
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the identity card scheme complies with each of the 10 principles set out in the Crosby Report; and if she will make a statement. [219757]
Meg Hillier: It is intended that, where it is appropriate, the scheme once it is in place should take account in whole or in part of the principles established in Sir James Crosby's report on Challenges and Opportunities in Identity Assurance. The National Identity Scheme Delivery Plan, published on 6 March 2008, the response to the consultation on the Delivery Plan, published on 6 November 2008 and the Identity Cards Act Secondary Legislation Consultation paper, published on 21 November, together set out how it is currently proposed that the scheme should be implemented.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Independent Scheme Assurance Panel has received the work plan for the development and implementation of identity assurance and data management standards, policies and processes for the identity card scheme. [219768]
Meg Hillier: The Independent Scheme Assurance Panel had Data Governance as a key theme of its 2007 Annual Report and has, during 2008, heard presentations on data governance and identity management from a number of people, as well as pursuing these issues in their reviews of specific work areas within the National Identity Scheme. This work is continuing as further work is conducted on these issues.
Illegal Immigrants
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people the UK Border Agency prevented from attempting to cross the English Channel illegally in 2007-08. [227246]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 15 October 2008]: In 2007, the UK Border Agency, in partnership with the French authorities, prevented over 17,800 individual attempts to cross the channel clandestinely. Of this figure, the UK Border Agency alone prevented over 5,400 attempts and in addition detected 1,420 forged travel documents.
From 1 January 2008 to date, the UKBA and our partners have prevented over 18,500 individual attempts to cross the channel. Of this figure, the UK Border Agency alone has prevented over 5,800 attempts and in addition detected 675 forged travel documents.
Illegal Immigrants: Deportation
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements her Department has made with the French government to fly back to their country of origin potential illegal entrants into the United Kingdom from France; when she expects the first such flight to happen; how costs will be split between the British and French government; and what payments in cash or benefits in kind will be made to those placed on such flights. [234788]
Mr. Woolas: I will write to the hon. Member.
Illegal Immigrants: Prisoners
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration offenders are in detention in (a) detention centres, (b) police cells, (c) prisons and (d) other institutions. [234731]
Jacqui Smith: As at 28 June 2008, there were 2,315 persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers in Immigration Service removal centres and immigration short-term holding facilities. This figure is rounded to the nearest five and excludes persons detained in Prison Service establishments and police cells. It is only possible to provide information to indicate how many of those detained under immigration powers in prisons or other establishments are immigration offenders through the detailed examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
National Statistics on detention are published annually and quarterly in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Control of Immigration which is available in the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
Immigrants: Detainees
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees there were at each immigration removal centre on 31 October 2008; and what percentage of those detainees in each centre were former foreign national prisoners. [236471]
Mr. Woolas: The numbers of detainees at each immigration removal centre on the date requested are not available; this information would be available only through the detailed examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
National Statistics on persons held in detention solely under Immigration Act powers are published annually and quarterly. Information on persons detained as at 27 September 2008 by place of detention has been published in Table 9 of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom—3rd Quarter 2008 bulletin which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
It is not possible to say, within these statistics, how many of the detainees in each centre on this date were former foreign national prisoners; this information would be available only through the detailed examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly updated the Home Affairs Committee with the most accurate and robust information available. In her letter of 23 July she advised the Committee that there were around 1,650 time-served foreign criminals subject to deportation action who were detained within immigration removal centres and prisons.
Immigration
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to determine the immigration status of Fouzia Ilyas, reference number J107 2668. [206019]
Mr. Woolas: I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what mechanism evidence is gathered from police forces on the impact of migration on each force. [233258]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 4 November 2008]: I will write to the hon. and learned Member.
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Migration Impacts Forum assesses the impact of migration on services in each region. [233259]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 4 November 2008]: Members of the Migration Impacts Forum are selected on a sectoral basis. Each meeting has a theme and is led by a representative of the sector to which that theme applies. Sectoral representatives will often gather evidence from their colleagues in regions across the UK to inform their representations to the MIF.
In addition, although representatives are selected on a sectoral basis, Ministers have sought to ensure that membership is spread between the different regions of the UK. The minutes of and papers for all MIF meetings are available on the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department excluding EEA and Swiss citizens, how many people are awaiting decisions on grants of indefinite leave to remain under the immigration rules and the long residency concession; and how many dependants are included in such applications. [233620]
Mr. Woolas: I will write to the hon. Member.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average caseload of caseworkers was in the UK Border Agency in the latest period for which figures are available. [235653]
Mr. Woolas: I will write to my hon. Friend.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration cases are awaiting resolution; and of those how many the UK Border Agency plans to resolve by (a) January 2009, (b) January 2010, (c) January 2011 and (d) January 2012. [237282]
Mr. Woolas: I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to implement the decision of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in the case of Mrs A. B., wife of Mr S. H. of Aylesbury. [238998]
Mr. Woolas: I will write to the hon. Member.
Immigration Controls
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral statement of 21 October 2008, Official Report, column 175, on immigration controls, what the evidential basis is for the statement that 12 per cent. fewer migrants would have come to the UK to work last year had tier 2 of the points-based migration system been in place. [234134]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 10 November 2008]: I will write to the hon. and learned Member.
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) higher education institutions, (b) businesses, (c) schools, (d) local authorities and (e) government departments have registered to be tier 2 sponsors in the points-based system. [238130]
Mr. Woolas: The number of applications for a sponsor license under Tier 2 of the points based system is 5,345(1). This figure includes higher education institutions, businesses, schools, local authorities, Government Departments and other sectors including hospitality and catering, sport, financial, information technology and private health care.
The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
(1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of processing time is expected to be over the next planning period from application to licence of tier 2 sponsors under the points-based system. [238131]
Mr. Woolas: From 27 November the published service standard for processing Tier 2 Sponsor applications under the points-based system will be 30 working days. From 1 April 2009, the published service standard will be 20 working days.
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many higher education institutions have registered to be tier 4 sponsors in the points-based system. [238132]
Mr. Woolas: The number of applications for a sponsor license under tier f4 of the points based system is 770. This figure includes universities and other higher education institutions as well as other organisations including private colleges and schools.
Applications for a sponsor licence received by 2 February 2009 will be processed in time for the implementation of tier 4 in March 2009.
This figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
The figure quoted is not provided under National Statistics protocols and has been derived from local management information and is therefore provisional and subject to change.
Immigration Controls: Luton Airport
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations her Department has received on UK Border Agency staffing levels at London Luton Airport; and if she will make a statement. [238717]
Mr. Woolas: Since the beginning of September 2008, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has received 14 complaints from members of the public concerning queuing times and staffing levels at passport control. These complaints relate to12 separate occasions.
Based on Luton airport operator's queue data for the period July to September 2008 inclusive, approximately 80 per cent. of passengers queued for less than 10 minutes. This is significantly lower than the UKBA's own passenger processing targets of 25 minutes for EEA passengers and 45 minutes for non EEA passengers.
UKBA officials at London Luton airport maintain regular dialogue with the port operator and are negotiating a service level agreement, which will include enhanced targets for improved passenger queuing times.
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to ensure border controls are properly enforced at London Luton Airport; and if she will make a statement. [238718]
Mr. Woolas: The United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) operates a 24/7 border control at Luton airport. We work closely with the police and other agencies in the detection and prevention of crime. In addition, UKBA at Luton deploys specialists in document forgery and anti-smuggling operations and conducts intelligence-led ‘outbound controls’ for the detection of immigration offenders and ‘money laundering’.
From 1 July 2007, the UK Border Agency introduced a checking policy requiring 100 per cent. systematic checking of travel documents against the UK’s watchlist at ports of entry.
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many non-EU passport holders were processed by passport control at London Luton Airport in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement; [238719]
(2) how many EU passport holders were processed by passport control at London Luton Airport in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [238720]
Meg Hillier: This information is not recorded at point of entry and as such is not available for disclosure. Statistics on passenger movements at all UK airports are however published by external sources.
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been provided by her Department for staff of the UK Border Agency and its predecessors at London Luton Airport in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [238721]
Mr. Woolas: In April 2008, the UK Border Agency was formed. It brings together the ex-Border and Immigration Agency, UKvisas and customs operational work at the border.
Records of legacy UKBA expenditure at London Luton airport are only available from financial year 2000-01. Expenditure on staff costs for each financial year is set out in the following table:
| (£ million) | |
| Financial year | Staff costs( 1) |
| (1) Includes pay, allowances, superannuation and national insurance contributions. | |
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