§ Mr. Tilleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the visit made earlier in January by immigration officers to check the immigration status of workers at Smiths Meters in Streatham Vale.
§ Mr. WhitelawFollowing extensive inquiries, officers of the Immigration Service and the Metropolitan Police visited Smiths Meters Ltd., S.W.16, on 6 January. Immigration officers wished to interview 18 named individuals believed to be employed by the company and214W whose immigration status was in doubt. Of the 18, one was not employed by the company, two had not attended for work on that day and four left the premises by climbing over a fence. Of the remaining 11 people, nine were found to be in breach of the immigration laws, and one required regularisation of his stay. Subsequent inquiries have led to the identification of a further three people in breach of the immigration laws. A warrant, issued under the Immigration Act 1971, had been obtained prior to the operation, which was conducted in strict accordance with the guidelines set out in my statement of 12 December 1980.