HL Deb 21 March 2001 vol 623 cc1422-3

2.52 p.m.

Lord Williamson of Horton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the recent BBC exposure of the scale of bogus marriages for payment, they 'will take measures to reduce such practices; for example, by greater powers for registrars to check false addresses and better exchange of information about those who present themselves for unlawful or bogus marriages.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, following the implementation of the marriage aspects of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 on 1st January 2001, people are required to provide documentation as part of the procedures for dealing with the civil preliminaries to marriage. The Government are also undertaking a fundamental review of civil registration in England and Wales, the aims of which include an improvement in the quality of information that is collected, and better and wider use of technology.

Lord Williamson of Horton

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that helpful reply. However, does he not agree that it is in the public interest and, indeed, possible to take practical steps to reduce or eliminate the current "rent a bride" racket which is not only intended to circumvent the immigration and residence rules but is indeed making a mockery of marriage?

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, it is important to remember that we have to maintain a balance. We have to have marriage laws which are not discriminatory as between any part of our population. We have to make sure that it is not unnecessarily difficult for people who legitimately want to get married to do so. At the same time we have to make sure that our laws are the same for everyone. That means that sometimes there will be bigamous marriages, marriages which involve perjury or marriages of people who have entered this country illegally.

Lord Waddington

My Lords, has the registrar the legal obligation to report suspicious circumstances when they occur?

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, that formed part of the provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Not only is there a responsibility on registrars to make such reports, but there is now a specialist unit in the asylum and naturalisation division to which such a report can be made.

Lord Cope of Berkeley

My Lords, what has been the effect of the new measures which started in January? Is it too soon to say how effective they are?

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, it is rather too soon. Since the London Marriage Abuse Team was set up in the asylum and naturalisation division, there have been over 200 arrests, over 100 people have been charged or cautioned, and more than 40 people have been removed or deported. But that occurred over a period of two years. The 10 or 11 weeks that have elapsed since 1st January comprise too short a period for statistical comparison.