Controlling Migration

Debate between Viscount Waverley and Baroness Neville-Jones

Tuesday 23rd November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Neville-Jones]

The noble Lord is right that there is a problem here. We are looking at a possible extension of the period during which a marriage would have to subsist for it to be demonstrated not to be sham. That means that we will have to monitor that to be the case. The announcements being made in context form part of a wider view of how we monitor those who are let into the country and their compliance with the conditions under which they were permitted to enter. In a different context, I recall announcing how we were going to monitor English language schools. That undoubtedly imposes on the immigration system an extra duty when ensuring that terms are being met. However, it will be made very clear to those involved that the penalties for failure to comply are very high.

[Viscount Waverley]

Could systems be put in place to record those departing UK shores? If not, when might that happen?

[Baroness Neville-Jones]

That is something that we are working on, but I cannot give the noble Viscount a date because I am not informed of the timetable, but it is certainly a UKBA objective that we record the outward journey.