Written question asked by Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 February 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 February 2006. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Friday, 3 March 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Illegal Immigration

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to tackle illegal immigration in Cambridgeshire.

Answer: Immigration and Nationality Directorate is committed to working towards the Government target of removing more failed asylum seekers, on a monthly basis, than there are unfounded claims. Operations are also undertaken targeting those who are working here illegally.Operations are intelligence led. Any information received concerning the county of Cambridgeshire is considered according to priorities and operations set up as necessary.Enforcement and removal work for United Kingdom Immigration Service in Cambridgeshire is carried out by the St. Ives office which is also the HQ of the eastern region.All work is intelligence driven and in Cambridgeshire centres on failed asylum seeker identification and removal. In order to deal with this regular visits are conducted by staff from that office to private addresses and business premises. The region also conducts prosecutions of individuals and businesses where flagrant breaches are identified.The Immigration Service in Cambridgeshire work closely with the police and other Government Departments as well as the local business community to deal with breaches of the immigration rules.

Secondary information