§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stretford on 9 December, Official Report, column 462, if he will give the reasons for not allowing friends, relatives or representatives to remain with travellers during interviews at the port of arrival; if he will indicate the regulation under which this procedure was established; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonA person seeking entry for a purpose for which an entry clearance is not required must himself satisfy the immigration officer that he qualifies for entry under the immigration rules. In practice most passengers are granted leave to enter after a brief initial interview and the presence of friends, relatives or representatives at the initial stage would be likely to hinder the rapid and efficient clearance of passengers through the control.
The relevant legal provisions include paragraph 2(1) of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, which provides that an immigration officer may examine any persons who have arrived in the United Kingdom for the purpose of determining whether leave should be granted or withheld and paragraphs 4(1) and (2) which place an obligation on the person so examined to furnish to the person carrying out the examination all such information as that person may require for the purpose of his functions under paragraph 2. It is an offence under section 26(1) of the Act if the passenger refuses or fails to furnish information without reasonable excuse. Paragraphs 26 and 27 of Schedule 2 give powers to the Secretary of State to specify the conditions and restrictions (if any) to be observed in a control area designated for the embarkation or disembarkation of passengers at any port.