§ Mr. Peter Reesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the measures currently in force for the detection and apprehension of illegal immigrants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SharplesThe police take all possible steps to deal with this problem and are currently reviewing the existing arrangements. My right hon. Friend is in close touch with them.
§ Mr. Peter Reesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how 442W many illegal immigrants have been detected and apprehended during the past 10 years; and how many have been deported.
§ Mr. SharplesThe information available to my right hon. Friend is that from 9th March, 1968, when it became an offence for a Commonwealth citizen to land in the United Kingdom without being examined by an immigration officer, until 31st October, 1970, 153 illegal immigrants were detected and apprehended. Most of them were returned to their own countries.
§ Mr. Peter Reesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations have been conducted to determine the number of illegal immigrants living in the country; and with what result.
§ Mr. SharplesThis would not be practicable.