§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why information concerning the embarkation of visitors from the United Kingdom is not available; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will take steps to ensure that information is kept on the embarkation of visitors from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will undertake a study of the application of new technology on the collation of statistics on embarkations of visitors from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonComprehensive statistical information on the embarkation of visitors is not available because the cost of its production would greatly outweigh its usefulness. We have no plans to produce such information. The present arrangement, which represents a more effective use of resources, is to record on entry on the current computer system those whose embarkation is likely to need to be checked.
Possible further uses of new technology in the immigration control, including the production of statistics, are being examined as part of the computing strategy of the Immigration and Nationality Department.