§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when immigration officers will be issued with 11W instructions concerning British citizen children, seeking to enter the United Kingdom from Bangladesh, being required to prove paternity by blood tests; and if he will publish these instructions.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThere is no such requirement.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to introduce any requirement to obtain prior entry clearance on those settled in Bangladesh who wish to visit the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes (Mr. Brown) on 5 December at col.311.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards acceptance of blood tests as offering conclusive evidence of family relationships;
(2) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards acceptance of the genetic finger printing test as conclusive evidence of family relationship.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe weight of evidence before the courts is a matter of the courts and not for Her Majesty's Government.
In the context of immigration, conventional blood tests do not in general offer conclusive evidence of family relationships. The newly-developed DNA test offers the prospect of such evidence. Preparations are accordingly being made to assess the acceptability and feasibility of using it in immigration cases.