HC Deb 21 July 1980 vol 989 cc55-6W
Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action immigration officers have been instructed to take if rung by a community relations officer or his staff to detain a visitor scheduled for deportation until an hon. Member can be contacted.

Mr. Raison

Immigration officers are instructed to defer for a limited period of time the removal of a person refused leave to enter if they are informed by an interested party, which would include a community relations officer, that he intends to contact a Member of Parliament.

Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct immigration officers that friends and relations of visitors held for deportation be asked specifically whether they wish to see their Member of Parliament.

Mr. Raison

No.

Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many visitors to the United Kingdom held for deportation by immigration officers have been returned within 15 hours of arrival;

  1. (2) how many visitors to the United Kingdom held for deportation by immigration officers have been returned in each of the last five years within nine hours of their arrival;
  2. (3) how many visitors to the United Kingdom held for deportation by immigration officers have been returned within 24 hours of their arrival.

Mr. Raison

We regret that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. If a person is refused leave to enter, the general practice is to require him to leave the country as soon as is reasonably practicable.