UK Border Force

Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford Excerpts

Monday 7th November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mrs May]

As I said in my statement, my understanding is that the head of the UK Border Agency admitted he had taken action outside ministerial approval.

[Nicola Blackwood (Oxford West and Abingdon) (Con)]

Evidence to the Home Affairs Committee showed that while the agency was truly chaotic under the last Government, significant problems remain in respect of its ability to protect our borders properly. It is clear the agency is in need of urgent and real reform. As a start, can the Home Secretary assure me and my constituents that the Government will swiftly press ahead with the creation of a border policing command?

[Mrs May]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. We will, indeed, be pressing ahead with the establishment of a border policing command inside the National Crime Agency. I am also pleased to be able to tell the House that the new chief executive of UKBA, Rob Whiteman, who has been in place for five weeks, has already done a lot of work in assessing what changes are required to ensure UKBA staff operate the maximum level of security.