Mike Tyson (Hansard, 27 January 2000)

§ Mr. Caton
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors he took into account in deciding to permit Mr. Mike Tyson to enter the United Kingdom on compassionate grounds. [106457]
240W

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the compassionate grounds for exempting Mr. Mike Tyson from refusal of entry to the UK. [106651]

§ Mr. Straw
[holding answer 25 January 2000]: There were no compassionate grounds in relation to Mr. Tyson which affected my decision to admit him. In reaching my decision one of the factors to which I gave particular weight was the lack of consistency in the effect of the Immigration Rules. I also considered the likely effect of cancellation of the fight on those who had already purchased tickets and smaller enterprises and individuals who were probably least able to bear any losses.
I weighted these factors against the nature and seriousness of Mr. Tyson's convictions and I decided on balance that the exceptional circumstances of this case were such that Mr. Tyson should be granted entry solely for the purpose of participating in the scheduled sporting event. This decision was made in accordance with the Immigration Act 1971 and the Immigration Rules.

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) of 18 January 2000,Official Report, columns 368–69W, on Mr. Mike Tyson, if he will list the companies and individuals with a direct or indirect interest in the promotion, whose comments formed part of the representations from Mr. Frank Warren. [106975]

§ Mr. Straw
In addition to his own letter, Mr. Warren's representations to the Immigration Service of 12 January consisted of 25 pages of copies of requests for media accreditation for the boxing match and 32 other letters from companies and individuals, either associated with the sports and leisure industry or the sport of boxing, including boxers due to fight in Manchester on 29 January.
As a matter of practice, representations made to the Immigration and Nationality Department about individual cases are treated in confidence.

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) of 18 January 2000,Official Report, column 417W, what representations he received from BSkyB (a) directly and (b) indirectly in respect of Mr. Mike Tyson's application to enter the country. [106977]

§ Mr. Straw
Representations were submitted to the Immigration Service by Mr. Frank Warren, the promoter of the event. He referred in these representations to the investment in the promotion by television networks including Showtime in the United States of America and BSkyB in this country. I considered these factors but I did not regard them as relevant to the decision I took.
In reaching my decision to admit Mr. Tyson one of the factors to which I gave most particular weight was the lack of consistency in the effect of the relevant Immigration Rule, as well as the likely effect of cancellation of the fight on those who had already purchased tickets and smaller enterprises and individuals who were probably least able to bear any losses.

§ Mr. Lidington
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state(a) the number of officers involved in policing the visit of Mr. Mike Tyson 241W to Brixton, (b) the cost of policing Mr. Tyson's visit and (c) how much he has asked Mr. Tyson and his promoters to contribute towards that cost. [107081]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that a total of 82 police officers were involved in policing the visit of Mike Tyson to Brixton on 21 January. The net additional manpower costs of these officers was approximately £9,700. I understand that the Lambeth borough Commander did not regard the policing of this event as a "special service" and therefore did not seek a contribution from Mr. Tyson or his promoters.

§ Mr. Lidington
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were on duty in Brixton at 3 p.m. on(a) 14 January, (b) 21 January and (c) 15 January; and if he will make a statement. [107080]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the number of uniformed officers available for routine patrol duties in Brixton at 3pm on these dates were as follows:(a) 14 January, 56; (b) 21 January, 25 with another 82 officers specifically deployed for the policing of the visit of Mike Tyson; (c) 15 January, 42.