§ Baroness HORNSBY-SMITHasked Her Majesty's Government:
What methods in the absence of identity cards are used to check illegal immigrants, tourists who overstay and take employment mainly in the catering trade, and foreign students whose holiday jobs become permanent.
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHBoth the police and the Immigration Service have established special intelligence units whose functions include the prevention and detection of illegal entry. They work in close liaison with other authorities in this country as well as with 777WA agencies overseas. The police and the Immigration Service also investigate specific information received alleging that persons are in the country illegally.
Selective checks are made to establish whether persons subject to immigration control, including those given leave to enter as visitors and students, have remained beyond the expiry of their permitted stay and appropriate action is taken when it is revealed that a person has overstayed his leave to remain here. The checks are made by matching the embarkation cards which each passenger subject to control has to complete on leaving with the corresponding landing cards filled in on entry to the United Kingdom.
The Government are considering what further measures might be taken specifically to combat illegal employment by those admitted for temporary purposes as, for example, visitors or students, and by those who enter illegally. Discussions are taking place with both sides of industry.