Illegal Immigrants

Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the approximately 2 million people who entered Great Britain during the first quarter of 1977 remained as illegal immigrants; and on what basis he estimates these figures;(2) whether he will make a detailed statement showing how and in what way and on how many occasions checks were made in the first quarter of 1977 to see that the 1,994,000 people who entered through the ports of entry into Great Britain returned to their home countries properly and at the correct time in accordance with their terms of entry.

Dr. Summerskill
Checks on departure are made selectively. It would not be practicable in the compass of a parliamentary reply, or without disproportionate cost, to provide a full statement, such as my hon. Friend requests, of the action taken in individual cases. Many of those admitted in the first quarter of 1977 will still have a valid leave to remain