§ 21. Mr. Fowlerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that the checks on the issue of national insurance cards are sufficient to prevent their issue to illegal immigrants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephUnder the National Insurance Acts cards must be issued on application to all persons insurable under the Acts, and they must therefore be issued to all imigrants who, on entering employment or otherwise, become insurable and apply for cards. I am satisfied that the checks are consistent with this obligation. The methods of checking are kept under review, but it would not be in the public interest to say exactly what they are.
§ Mr. FowlerI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does he not agree that we rely on checks on the border to prevent illegal immigration and that the issue of national insurance cards is one of the few checks inside the border? What checks actually take place? Is there co-operation between his Department and the police on the issue of insurance cards?
§ Sir K. JosephThere is certainly co-operation between my Department and the Home Office. I am not prepared to describe the checks in public because I do not think that it would be in the public interest to do so.
§ Mr. PowellWill not my right hon Friend, however, recognise that the readiness with which these cards are issued is one of the principal factors which makes illegal immigration practicable?
§ Sir K. JosephI do not think that I can accept that from my right hon. Friend. I do not know whether he has knowledge that leads him to describe the conduct of the officials concerned as undue readiness. It is their obligation to issue cards to all those who are entitled to be insurable under our law. In fulfilling that obligation they have certain checks to carry out. I do not accept that there is an undue readiness, but I am willing to consider any evidence which my right hon. Friend sends to me.