§ 30. Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that 40 immigration officers working at London, Heathrow, Airport, the arrival point for the majority of Asian immigrants, are concerned with the corruption and deceit which occurs in getting immigrants into this country; and what urgent steps he is taking to stop these abuses.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. James Callaghan)I keep under continuous review the methods for preventing abuses of the immigration control. There are established procedures for bringing to bear the experience of immigration officers at all levels in these matters and these channels have been and are in regular use.
§ Sir C. OsborneWould the Home Secretary be good enough to give the House an assurance that these immigration officers will not be punished for bringing this grave scandal to the public notice?
§ Mr. CallaghanI think that the junior grades who were concerned are aware of the possibility of conflict between the views they may hold privately and any public expression which could give rise to a challenge to their impartiality in administering Acts of Parliament. This is a matter far beyond party controversy, and every party should uphold the use of the regular machinery that exists for discussion of problems concerning the work of civil servants.