§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his policy of charging ports for the services of immigration officers. [142805]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 14 December 2000]: The power to charge for the provision of additional immigration officers is contained within section 9(4) of the Immigration Act 1988.
Section 26 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will, upon commencement, replace section 9(4) of the Immigration Act 1988. It is designed to clarify existing provisions by providing for charges to be made for immigration officers in addition to those needed to provide a basic service. The "basic service", the definition of which is to be prescribed in Regulations, will provide a baseline against which additional services might be measured.
216WThe definition of "basic service" is yet to be determined, and is the subject of ongoing consultation with industry.
Implementation of the provision will not be effected before April 2002.