Controlling Migration Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Home Office

Controlling Migration

Sarah Wollaston Excerpts
Tuesday 23rd November 2010

(13 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Theresa May Portrait Mrs May
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

We are indeed looking at the criminality criteria for entering in order to tighten them up; we want to look at people’s records when considering who can enter the UK. We think that that is an important element that we should be looking at, and I know that the issue has concerned a number of people.

Sarah Wollaston Portrait Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Con)
- Hansard - -

Has the Home Secretary made an estimate of the number of sham marriages, particularly those to EU migrants to the UK? What further measures will she take to deter this and punish those responsible?

Theresa May Portrait Mrs May
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I do not have an estimate of the number of sham marriages, but I am happy to say to my hon. Friend that the UK Border Agency was very active in stopping sham marriages over the summer; we had a very big crackdown on them. Many people were concerned and surprised to see that a Church of England vicar was caught and arrested for helping sham marriages to take place.