§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to strengthen immigration legislation to tackle abuse of the United Kingdom's immigration control. [38843]
§ Mr. StrawThe Government are firmly committed to ensuring that those who seek to migrate to the United Kingdom, but have no grounds for doing so under the Immigration Rules, are prevented from coming here. We have today by Order extended the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 to Eurostar services arriving from Brussels to reduce the large numbers of inadequately documented passengers using this route over recent months.
The Order as drafted does not extend to SNCF (the operators of services from France) because of their current position under French law. But we have agreed with the French Government measures to enhance operational co-operation until a longer term solution can be found.
256WFrom 0001 hours on Friday 10 April we will require nationals of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia to obtain Direct Airside Transit Visas to come to the United Kingdom even when they intend to remain airside while in transit through the United Kingdom. We have taken this action following evidence of abuse of the Transit Without Visa concession by such nationals.