Immigration Officers

HC Deb 24 January 1984 vol 52 cc471-2W

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of immigration officers are from the ethnic minorities.

Mr. Brittan

The recording of information about the ethnic origins of staff in the Civil Service is still in its preliminary stages and the figure requested is not available.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he takes to ensure that immigration officers are free from racial prejudice.

Mr. Waddington

Immigration officers are required by the immigration rules to carry out their duties without regard to the race, colour or religion of people seeking to enter the United Kingdom. One of the aims of the selection process is to try to ensure that applicants judged incapable of meeting this essential requirement are not recruited. The requirement in the rules is underlined during initial training, and elements of specific race relations training, now included in some courses, are being developed for a wider range of courses. The management of the service is under a particular obligation to ensure that immigration officers carry out all their responsibilities impartially.