Oral Answers to Questions

James Clappison Excerpts

Monday 28th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Nick Herbert]

We will be making further announcements in due course about our policy of replacing bureaucratic accountability with direct accountability through directly elected individuals.

[Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend recall that nearly 10 years into the life of the previous Government, it suddenly emerged by chance that foreign prisoners were not being considered for deportation when they should have been, and that there was a backlog of 400,000 asylum cases and other cases owing to incompetence? Will he ensure that there is a culture of openness, transparency and efficiency in the Home Office right from the start of this Government?

[Damian Green]

My hon. Friend makes a good point with characteristic trenchancy and passion. He is right. The situation with foreign national prisoners was a disaster, as was the asylum delay backlog. We are getting to grips with these problems. It is very important not only that we have the right number of people coming to this country but that the people of this country have confidence in the administration of the immigration system, because without that we will never have people assured that the borders of this country are as secure as they should be. That was one of the great failures of the previous Government.