Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what checks are applied by the UK Border Agency to Heads of State and Heads of Government, and their staff, who visit the UK.

Heads of State are exempt from Immigration control. Heads of Government visiting the UK for official reasons are also exempt. Border Force officers conduct Home Office checks on these categories of visitors to confirm the identity of the visitor and to endorse passports if required.