HC Deb 03 April 1973 vol 854 cc78-9W
Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of the printing and provision of the new landing cards supplied to non-United Kingdom citizens arriving in Great Britain.

Mr. Lane

Carrying companies are required under the Immigration (Landing and Embarkation Cards) Order 1972 (S.I. 1972 No. 1666) to supply landing and embarkation cards to passengers. Most of the major companies make their own arrangements, but some obtain cards from Her Majesty's Stationery Office, whose current charge is £8.40 per 5,000.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the new landing cards printed in Great Britain for foreign arrivals have questions only in English and in no other EEC language; and what extra cost in printing and translation fees would be involved if we were to give a French and German translation.

Mr. Lane

Landing cards are available in a number of languages, including French, German and Italian. Cards are normally issued in languages appropriate for the majority of passengers on a particular flight or ship.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why nationals of fellow-members of the EEC have to fill in landing cards on arrival in the United Kingdom, and what happens to these cards after they have been completed.

Mr. Lane

All foreign nationals of or over the age of 16 may be required under the Immigration (Landing and Embarkation Cards) Order 1972 (S.I. 1972 No. 1666) to complete landing and embarkation cards. The cards are an aid to the immigration officer and are also used for the compilation of statistics, for reference purposes and, in appropriate cases, for checking embarkation of passengers given limited leave to enter. The arrangements are not affected by our membership of the EEC.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are necessary for the collection, processing and filing of landing cards filled in by foreign nationals entering and leaving the United Kingdom; how much this costs; and what cost and staff results from EEC nationals completing these landing cards.

Mr. Lane

Since many of the staff who handle landing and embarkation cards spend only part of their time on this work, the information could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.