HC Deb 23 March 1978 vol 946 c697W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the case of Mr. Ahmed Kandil, a young Egyptian; why he made seven crossings to and from the British coast after being turned back by British immigration officials on each occasion, and at whose expense; and how many similar cases are on record for the longest stated period of time.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Mr. Ahmed Kandil, who had been refused entry to the United Kingdom and France and who had been removed to Cairo the previous month, was refused entry again when he arrived at Newhaven from Dieppe on 26th February. Inquiries showed that two United Kingdom visas in his passport had not been issued and that the French authorities considered that a French one was also not genuine. He was refused entry by both authorities. Between 28th February and 3rd March attempts were made to persuade the French authorities to permit him to land in France, in connection with which he made three passages to Dieppe. These were unsuccessful and he was then removed to Cairo by British Rail.

It would involve disproportionate cost to establish how many similar cases are on record.