§ Mr. Peter Reesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted of procuring the evasion of immigration control during the past two years; and what was the nationality of each person convicted and the sentence received by each person convicted.
§ Mr. SharplesThe information available to me is that from 1st March, 1969, to 1st March, 1971, 36 persons were convicted in connection with illegal entry. Information about their nationality is not readily available. The table below shows their reported countries of origin and the sentences imposed.
Reported Country of Origin India … 11 Italy … 1 Nigeria … 1 Pakistan … 3 Sierra Leone … 1 United Kingdom … 17 United States of America … 2
Term of Imprisonment 7 years … 3 6 years … 1 5 years … 1 4 years … 3 3 years … 5 30 months … 1 2 years … 10 21 months … 1 18 months … 2 15months … 2 12 months (suspended) … 1 9 months (suspended) … 1 6 months (suspended) … 3 4 months (suspended) … 1 1 day … 1
§ Mr. Grieveasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the extent of illegal immigration into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many immigrants who have succeeded in entering the country illegally have been apprehended within 28 days of landing in England, giving figures for the years 1966 to 1970, inclusive, and for the year 1971 to date.
§ Mr. SharplesIt is not possible to determine the number of those subject to immigration control who have entered irregularly. From 9th March, 1968, to 31st December, 1970, 164 Commonwealth citizens who had entered without examination by an immigration officer 43W were apprehended within 28 days of their arrival. For 1971 to date the figure is 18.