§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the normal practice for immigration officers interviewing British subjects married to visitors to the United Kingdom to ask what role hon. Members have played in giving advice to their constituents in immigration cases.
§ Mr. WaddingtonNo.
§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is collected by immigration officers about the advice given to their constituents by hon. Members in immigration cases; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonWhen a person sponsoring a visitor indicates that his Member has given him advice on the case that fact is routinely recorded by the immigration officer. Similarly, when a person is refused leave to enter, and a Member makes representations against that refusal, the points raised by the hon. Member will be recorded so that a response may be made. In addition, there may be occasions when correspondence between an hon. Member and a sponsor or passenger becomes available in the course of an examination. That information will also be collected if it is relevant to the immigration officer's decision.