I am today laying before Parliament a copy of the report by Mrs. Linda Costelloe Baker, the independent monitor for entry clearance refusals with limited rights of appeal, covering the period 1 April to 30 September 2007. A copy is also being made available on the UKBA website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk, together with the UK Border Agency’s response to the independent monitor’s recommendations.

I am most grateful to Mrs. Costelloe Baker for this thorough and positive report based on the 824 sample cases which she has reviewed for the period 1 April to 30 September 2007.

In the report, Mrs Costelloe Baker comments that “UKvisas has managed a huge programme of business change, holding on to principles of fairness and good service in the face of a strong ‘controls’ agenda. It sets itself high standards and deserves the praise and awards it receives for its successes”.

Mrs. Costelloe Baker also makes a number of constructive recommendations as to how the UK Border Agency can continue to improve the quality of decision making, customer service and complaint handling. The UK Border Agency welcomes these comments and is keen to use these recommendations to drive up the quality of its service to customers whilst maintaining a high level of immigration control.

I wish to record our thanks to Mrs. Costelloe Baker for the work and effort she has put into producing this her third report as independent monitor for entry clearance refusals with limited rights of appeal. The independent monitor’s next report will cover the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 and will be published in the second half of 2008.