§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an official of the Immigration Service visited the residence in Northern Ireland of the Estonian Baltic Dancers; whether the dancers overstayed their 12 week group permit; and what attempt was made to verify their ages and the travel documents they were using. [90044]
§ Beverley HughesThe residence of foreign nationals believed to be employed at the Movie Star Cafe was visited by the United Kingdom Immigration Service (UKIS) on 18 December 2002. Four female foreign nationals were encountered (one Latvian, one Estonian, one Russian and one Colombian) who all declared they were employed at the club.
The Latvian and Estonian females confirmed they were part of a group of 17 dancers who were granted a 12 week work permit on 1 July 2002. These two 591W individuals advised that they had entered the UK (Northern Ireland) overland via the Irish Republic on a number of occasions since 1 July and had not seen an immigration officer on arrival. A provision of The Variation of Leave (Entry through Ireland) Order 1981 is that persons arriving in the United Kingdom by this route are deemed to have leave for a specific period as a visitor. They have, however, not been granted leave to work by an immigration officer and without doing so are not allowed to take employment. The individuals and the club owner were advised of this and that the deemed leave was due to expire the following day. The Immigration Service has confirmed that the two women departed the UK in order to avoid overstaying their leave.
The Russian and Colombian females were both visa nationals but neither held valid UK visas. The Immigration Service therefore served illegal entry
Recipient Amount (£) 2002–03 From Community Champions to Mohammed Wali for running activities and establishing services for the Somalian 2,000 Refugee Community in Handsworth Bham. Community Cohesion Summer Activity Scheme paid to Regent College, Leicester for a sport and leisure 33,780 programme for local Somali and Montserrat young people. Somali young people were also encouraged to go to other summer schemes but this was the only one funded specifically for the Somali new comer communities in this region. Purposeful Activity for Asylum Seekers Somali Advice and Information Centre, Leicester 2,170 Bariimo Somali Youth Project, Harrow 2,100 2001–02 Refugee Community Development Fund Somali Physical Disabled Support Group, Sheffield 4,930 Somali Youth Association, Milton Keynes 4,150 Somaliland Health and Education Project, London SE19 3,650 Stonebridge Somali Centre, London 4,789 Somali Community Support Centre, London W14 4,861 Horn Stars Sports Club, London NW10 5,000 East London Somali Association 5,000 European Refugee Fund (The accounting periods are calendar years) 2002 East London Somali Association 28,847 Somali Advisory Bureau, London W2 9,230 2001 East London Somali Association 21,318 Somali Advisory Bureau, London W2 9,730 Somali Cultural Centre, London NW6 18,650 2000 Somali Advisory Bureau, London W2 4,865