HC Deb 03 July 1980 vol 987 cc653-4W
39. Mr. Budgen

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new measures have been taken in the last year to prevent illegal immigration and illegal overstaying.

Mr. Raison

The new Immigration Rules which came into operation on 1 March were designed to strengthen the control and among other things to restrict the opportunities for overstaying: they provide for the refusal of entry and of extensions of stay in a wider variety of circumstances than previously. The Immigration Service and the police continue to be vigilant against those who seek to evade the control or to enter by employing deception. A closer working relationship between the police and the Immigration Service is being developed, and is resulting in more effective measures to detect illegal entrants and over-stayers. The action being taken by the Government to deal firmly with those found to have offended against the immigration laws is a deterrent to potential offenders.