§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what evidence an immigration officer decides that a passenger has arrived from another member state of the European Community.
§ Mr. Charles WardleIn some cases, most notably at the channel ports, the immediate point of departure will be self-evident. Otherwise, where there is any doubt, the immigration officer takes into account the passenger's own statement and such documentary evidence as is available, including endorsements in travel documents, travel tickets and carriers' records.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 July,Official Report, column 775, if he will make a statement on progress under the United Kingdom presidency on the work programme of EC Ministers concerned with immigration.
§ Mr. Charles WardleProgress is being made under the United Kingdom Presidency on a number of matters identified in the work programme adopted in December 1991 by EC Ministers concerned with immigration. We are carrying forward the work begun under the Portuguese Presidency on the harmonisation of family reunification policy; and have introduced proposals concerning the admission of non-EC nationals for purposes of employment. We are also working towards an agreement on the expulsion of illegal immigrants and on a resolution on manifestly unfounded asylum applications. There has been continuing progress on practical measures to prepare for the implementation of the Dublin asylum convention and the draft external frontiers convention.
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§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) further to his answer to the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) of 15 July,Official Report, column 77, what policy implications for United Kingdom immigration law stem from the progress made under the Portuguese presidency on family reunification; and what changes to primary or secondary legislation are required;
(2) what administrative measures may need to be taken to implement the progress made on family reunification under the Portuguese presidency of the EC Ministers concerned with immigration.
§ Mr. Charles WardleDiscussion of family reunification policy did not reach a sufficiently advanced stage during the Portuguese Presidency to enable conclusions to be drawn about the possible implications for United Kingdom law and practice.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of precisely which areas of family reunification discussions are currently taking place in the EC group of Ministers concerned with immigration.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe basic issues being addressed are which family members are to be admitted to join third-country nationals resident in a member state and under what conditions.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been agreed with the other EC Ministers concerned with immigration for the transit through member states of persons removed or deported.
§ Mr. Charles WardleNo arrangements have yet been agreed with other EC Ministers. However, draft guidelines have been prepared, which it is intended should be considered by EC immigration Ministers at their meeting at the end of November. These recommend that, where possible, removal of third-country nationals through other EC member states should be avoided; that, where such a removal is necessary, for example in the interests of efficiency, speed or economy, the removing state should make satisfactory arrangements for the individual's onward journey; and that there should be proper consultation with the transit state on such matters as documentation and the use of escorts.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to change the green form legal aid option for immigraiton advice and representations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleMy noble Friend the Minister of State announced on 10 February in another place, column 459–60, that the Government did not intend to proceed with the proposal to transfer advice on immigration and asylum from the green form legal aid scheme to the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service. Green form legal aid continues to be available in immigration and asylum cases.
§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what matters were discussed by the ad hoc group of Home Affairs Ministers responsible for immigration matters in the European Community at its meeting on 10 and 11 September; and if he will make a statement as to decisions or agreements reached at that meeting, the areas in which discussions are on going, and the form in which conclusions will be presented to Parliament.
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§ Mr. Charles WardleThe ad hoc working group on immigration is composed of senior officials. It reports to EC Immigration Ministers, who meet towards the end of each Presidency. At its meeting on 10–11 September, the group discussed a range of issues, including admission for the purpose of employment, implementing work in respect of the draft external frontiers convention and the practices to be followed by member states as regards the expulsion of third country nationals unlawfully present in their territories. Discussions will continue on these and other matters in preparation for consideration by Ministers.
My right hon. and learned Friend will report to the House in the usual way the conclusions of the meeting of Immigration Ministers due to take place in London at the end of November.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all EC directives, draft directives and other EC proposals which currently pertain to immigration, nationality and asylum.
Salary scales London Elsewhere Grade Number of Staff employed in grade on 30 September 1992 Range minimum Range maximum Range minimum Range maximum Grade 3 (chief inspector) 1 51,272 59,280 49,920 57,928 Grade 5 (director) 2 37,589 49,790 36,019 47,921 Grade 6 (deputy director) 3 28,904 44,390 27,660 42,724 Grade 7 (assistant director) 16 25,330 36,019 24,239 34,469 Inspector 72 19,815 23,082 19,616 22,618 Senior executive officer 6 18,082 22,618 17,361 21,715 Chief immigration officer 316.5 16,333 18,833 16,004 18,454 Higher executive officer 18 14,456 18,454 13,880 17,718 Immigration officer 1,832 12,411 15,682 12,161 15,366 Executive officer 55 10,440 14,753 10,024 14,165 Assistant immigration officer 49 9,405 11,138 8,790 10,409 Administration officer 133 9,405 11,138 8,790 10,409 Administration assistant 108.5 7,175 9,405 6,706 8,790 Senior personal secretary 1 12,752 14,599 11,917 13,644 Personal secretary 12 9,405 11,521 8,790 10,768 Typist 35 7,175 9,405 6,706 8,790 Note: Progression on the salary depends on performance
§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to the ad hoc group of Home Affairs Ministers in the European Community responsible for immigration matters, what treaties, agreements, resolutions or protocols are currently being considered by the group; when the group will next meet; and if he will publish the names of sub-groups, the person chairing them and the frequency of meetings.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe ad hoc working group on immigration is composed of senior officials. It meets approximately eight times a year and reports to Ministers concerned with immigration matters. The group will meet next on 12–13 November. Work currently in hand in the group under the immigration and asylum work programme agreed at Maastricht in December 1991 includes the preparation of resolutions for adoption by Ministers on manifestly unfounded asylum applications, harmonisation of family reunification policy, and expulsion practice. Other areas under discussion include admission for employment and transit for the purposes of
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§ Mr. Charles WardleThe area covered by Community law is that of free movement and residence rights for EC nationals and their families. The operation of these rights is currently governed by Council directives 64/221/EEC; 68/360/EEC; 72/194/EEC; 73/148/EEC; 75/34/EEC; 75/35/EEC; 90/364/EEC; 90/365/EEC and 90/366/EEC; and by regulations EEC No. 1612/68, EEC No. 1251/70 and EEC No. 2194/91. A Commission document, COM(90)108, contains proposals to amend regulation EEC No. 1612/68 and directive 68/360/EEC. These proposals are currently under discussion.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out in tabular form the annual salary scales for those employed in the immigration service up to and including the permanent secretaries and Ministers, giving the numbers employed at each grade.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information is set out in the tables:
removal. The current chairman is Mr. A. R. Rawsthorne, an Assistant Under-Secretary of State in the Immigration and Nationality Department of the Home Office.
There are currently five sub-groups reporting to the ad hoc group, each chaired during the United Kingdom Presidency by a senior official of the Immigration and Nationality Department, as follows:
Sub group Chairman Admission/Expulsion Mr. N. R. Varney/Mr. C. B. Manchip Asylum Mr. N. C. Sanderson External Frontiers Mr. N. R. Varney False documents Mr. C. B. Manchip Visa Mr. R. G. Yates The frequency of meetings varies, but a total of 22 days had been allocated in total to meetings of the sub-groups during the United Kingdom Presidency.