Written question asked by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 March 1997. It was answered by Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative) on Monday, 17 March 1997 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: When the Immigration Status Enquiry Unit was set up; how many staff it has; how many (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies have now registered with it; how many people suspected of immigration offences have been notified to it in each month since it was set up; in how many such cases (a) enforcement action has been taken and (b) the suspicion proved to be unfounded; and what was the average length of time taken to provide the information requested. - Includes figures and fact that remainder of the information requested is not available.

Answer: Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the immigration status inquiry unit was set up; how many staff it has; how many (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies have now registered with it; how many people suspected of immigration offences have been notified to it in each month since it was set up; in how many such cases (a) enforcement action has been taken and (b) the suspicion proved to be unfounded; and what was the average length of time taken to provide the information requested. [20628] Mr. Kirkhope: The immigration status inquiry unit dates from the late 1970s, although it was known as the overstayer tracing and information section until 1994. The unit currently has a complement of 42 administrative staff. A total of 251 local authorities, principally housing authorities, have registered with it. Other bodies do not register as such but may receive information from immigration and nationality directorate records only where they have an entitlement within established disclosure policy. The remainder of the information requested is not available.

Secondary information