§ 30. Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist to ensure that visitors admitted to the United Kingdom for a limited period do not overstay their time.
§ 32. Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he is taking, as part of the total control of immigration, to prevent overstaying.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsA check is made on the departure of large numbers of people, including visitors, admitted temporarily. I could not, however, justify the very substantial cost of checking the departure of every single tourist or other bona fide visitor of whom several million visit this country every year.
When the checking process suggests someone has overstayed, enquiries are made. Overstayers who are traced, whether or not they are convicted of the criminal offence of overstaying, who have no claim under the Immigration Rules to remain here, and who are not prepared to leave voluntarily then, in the absence of exceptional circumstances, are deported.
I keep these arrangements under review.