§ Mr. Les Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the functions and categories of information stored on the computer at Harmondsworth illegal immigration unit.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe functions of the computer at the immigration service intelligence unit at Harmondsworth are to store and provide prompt retrieval of information about abuse, or attempted abuse, of the immigration laws.
The personal information held consists of particulars of persons who either fall into certain clearly defined categories (eg they have been refused leave to enter or entry clearance, in certain cases have been deported from the United Kingdom, have absconded or have elected to leave the United Kingdom before consideration of their case is complete) or are considered to be involved in abuse or attempted abuse of the immigration laws. In addition to names and the categories of interest, the records include, where available, other personal details such as nationality, date of birth and address.
The computer also records documents such as passports (including documents forged, falsified or reported lost or stolen) which might be used to circumvent the immigration control and certain addresses which have come to notice in respect of abuse or attempted abuse of the immigration laws.