§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to see there are adequate numbers of immigration officers at points of entry to the United Kingdom to avoid long delays at peak times; and what steps can be taken to examine passengers at ports of embarkation.
§ Mr. Peter LloydStaffing of the immigration service, which is subject to public expenditure constraints, is kept under regular review. Flexible deployment of staff is aimed particularly at maintaining satisfactory clearance rates during peak periods. Delays are however inevitable when carriers or port operators, for their own commercial reasons, bring in large numbers of passengers within a very short period. Carriers and port operators are aware that it is open to them to request additional immigration service staff, provided that they meet the full cost. Such arrangements could include pre-clearance at the point of embarkation abroad.