§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the main criteria observed in 306W deciding to transfer an immigration officer within the United Kingdom; whether immigration officers requested to transfer are entitled to receive written notice giving an explanation for the transfer request; and what right of appeal an immigration officer has against a transfer request.
§ Mr. BrittanA decision to transfer an immigration officer within the United Kingdom is taken in the light of the particular circumstances of the move; main criteria will normally be the operational, the management, and the personal considerations. Immigration officers serve in a grade having a mobility obligation and they may be required to serve anywhere in the United Kingdom or at posts abroad. Notice of a transfer, although this is not a requirement, is always given in writing and the officer normally knows the reasons for the move. There is no right of appeal on the specific point, but any officer who has a grievance relating to his employment (which would include a grievance about an instruction to transfer) may approach his manager, the personnel department, his trade union, the staff welfare officer, or the head of the department.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give figures showing the total establishment of immigration officers, serving in the United Kingdom, in each of the last three years and the number in post for each year in the same period.
§ Mr. BrittanThe figures are as follows:
1 April 1981 1982 1983 Complement 1,258 1,258 1,278 In post 1,219 1,244 1,264
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers, serving in the United Kingdom, have been transferred within the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. BrittanThe figures are as follows:
Year to 31 December 1981 48 31 December 1982 54 31 December 1983 53
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost of the transfer of immigration officers within the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and what expenses or allowances immigration officers, subject to transfer within the United Kingdom, are entitled to claim.
307W
§ Mr. BrittanI regret that information on the total cost of transfers of immigration officers is not held in the form requested and cannot be obtained without disproportionate costs.
The expenses and allowances are fully set out in the pay and conditions of service code; broadly speaking they provide for reimbursement of the allowable costs of the officers and of his family in making preliminary visits to the new station, finding temporary and permanent accommodation, the actual household removal (including subsistence and pantechnicon costs), the legal expenses of house purchase or sale, miscellaneous expenses grants and provision for payment in part of higher housing costs in the new area. Officers' circumstances vary, but each officer is told the terms upon which he is being transferred.