Immigration (Hansard, 10 January 1995)

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest appraisal system supplied to immigration officers; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Nicholas Baker
A list has been placed in the Library of the standard main tasks and performance levels against which managers assess the performance of immigration officers at ports.

§ Mr. Spellar
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether immigration officers have been given a quota for refusing foreign nationals entry to the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Nicholas Baker
There are no refusal quotas for immigration officers. All passengers are dealt with on their merits and in accordance with the immigration rules laid down by Parliament.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all operational targets which apply to the immigration service.

§ Mr. Nicholas Baker
Service standards are set for the immigration service relating to maximum passenger queuing times at ports of entry. These are set out in the service's published operating plan, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.

§ Mr. Madden
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the tariff sentences he imposed on Abdul Qayyum Raja and Mohammed Riaz; what action he has taken in these matters following the judgment of the High Court on 16 December; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The judgment effectively requires the Secretary of State to reconsider the cases of these two prisoners, and to set a fresh tariff for each. He will do so following receipt of any further representations which they may wish to make in the light of further disclosure which has been given to them. We are in correspondence with their legal representatives about these matters.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether immigration officers have been given a quota system for(a) interrogating or (b) refusing foreign nationals entry into the United Kingdom; whether their earnings are linked to such targets; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Nicholas Baker
There are no quotas of any kind for immigration officers. All passengers are dealt with on their merits and in accordance with the immigration rules laid down by Parliament.