§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used by immigration officers, who release a person from immigration detention, to determine whether an address is suitable as one where the person will be required to live under the terms of the temporary admission; and what checks immigration officers are expected to carry out before releasing a person from detention to ensure an address meets these criteria. [124238]
§ Beverley HughesI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 11 July 2003,Official Report, column 1068.
§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions he is taking to ensure that UK immigration rules are fully compliant with the Human Rights Act 1998. [132234]
§ Beverley HughesParagraph 2 of the Immigration Rules states that all immigration staff will carry out their duties in compliance with the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998. In preparing changes to the Immigration Rules, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary takes detailed advice as part of his consideration of questions of compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate officials and Home Office lawyers. Judgments in individual immigration appeal cases raising human rights issues are also carefully examined for any wider potential implications for the Rules.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out his(a) proposals and (b) targets for improving the speed and quality of service for those who seek to enter the United Kingdom lawfully under the immigration rules. [134049]
694W
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 23 October 2003]The UK Immigration Service is committed to processing bona fide passengers with minimal delay, and has signed up to international standards for passenger processing times. These are embedded in the UK Immigration Service's annual business objectives, and are kept under review.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards for processing passengers are:
45 minutes for non-EEA passengers, with minimal delay for EEA passengers.
The UK Immigration Service's performance is also measured independently against the British Airports Authority (BAA) quality of service management figures, which includes queuing times. The Immigration Service continues to score well against this measure.
The Immigration Service is currently drawing up service level agreements with a number of port operators to monitor passenger processing times.
§ Mr. LyonsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the benefits to the UK economy of authorised immigration. [134136]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 27 October 2003]In 2001 the Home Office published a wide ranging review of the effects of migration on the UK Economy, and in 2002 its Research Directorate published four separate research reports on migrants' fiscal effects and their labour market outcomes and impacts. The studies considered various aspects of immigrants' characteristics and contribution to the UK economy.
The overall impact is positive—migrants have no significant adverse impact on non-migrants' employment and, if anything, had a positive impact on wages, suggesting they bring complementary skills. The evidence demonstrates that migrants contribute to economic growth, productivity, innovation and public finances. The fiscal study estimated that immigrants made a net £2.5 billion contribution to the economy in 1999–2000. Immigrants also help fill jobs that companies have been unable to fill from the domestic labour force.
§ Mr. SimonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend paragraph 302 of the Immigration Rules to permit an accompanying child to be granted a two year visa. [134555]
§ Beverley HughesThe Immigration Rules will be changed shortly so that children qualifying under paragraph 302 of the rules may be granted limited leave to enter for up to two years.
§ Mr. DhandaTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances the Department may retain for up to three years the passport of an individual applying for(a) SET (M) and (b) SET (F). [135318]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 30 October 2003]In both cases a passport is normally held while the application is being considered. It is unusual for documents to be held for three years as non-asylum applications are normally considered within a 12-month 695W period. However, only in exceptional circumstances where, for example, a further investigation is required by the Immigration Service might this time be exceeded.
Documents can be returned on request at any time before a decision has been made although they may not be endorsed.