§ Mr. Simsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the number of cases following the dismissal of immigration appeals by adjudicators and/or the immigration appeals tribunal in which he exercised his discretion to permit the appellant to remain in the United Kingdom for each of the years 1973, 1974 and 1975.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsIt would not be possible to produce this information without disproportionate effort. My discretion to act outside the Immigration Rules is sparingly exercised.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will instigate an inquiry into the extent to which vetting procedures for immigrants wishing to settle permanently in the United Kingdom include enquiries of the criminal records in the country of origin and /or country of domicile prior to entry certificates being granted:
(2) what inquiries take place into the character and antecedents of an applicant wishing to settle permanently in Great Britain if he is presently resident in an EEC country, the new Commonwealth, or the old Commonwealth, and before an entry certificate is issued.
§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what check is made on immigrants entering the United Kingdom on a permanent basis as to their previous good character; and whether there is any effort made to identify those who have criminal records.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonInquiries into the character and antecedents of persons seeking settlement in the United Kingdom are not made as a matter of routine. The great majority of persons admitted for settlement are Commonwealth dependants who could not be refused entry on criminal grounds, and United Kingdom passport holders to whom we have a special obligation.