§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria immigration officials use to determine whether an individual seeking to enter the United Kingdom is (a) a Roma or (b) a Kurd; and for which other people ethnicity is a special consideration for entry to the United Kingdom. [HL314]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalImmigration officers are not permitted to use ethnic or national origin as a basis for affording extra scrutiny to passengers seeking to enter the United Kingdom unless specifically authorised to do so by a Minister. All applications for entry are carefully considered in accordance with the Immigration Rules (HC 395 as amended). The ministerial authorisation of April 2001 which allowed immigration officers to subject passengers from certain specified ethnic or national groups (including Roma and Kurds) to more rigorous scrutiny was removed on 11 June 2002.