The UK Home Affairs Select Committee has produced its third report of the year into the work of UKBA and there was more criticism of UKBA operations. MPs called on UKBA to recognise the term Bogus Colleges and ensure that inspections to Tier 4 sponsors (education establishments) must be unannounced. The UK Home Affairs Select Committee (HAC) has produced its third report of the year into the work of the UK Border Authority (
UKBA) and there was more criticism of UKBA operations. MPs called on UKBA to ensure that inspections to Tier 4 sponsors (education establishments) must be unannounced.
Echoing
comments made by Keith Vaz MP at the recent Universities UK debate, HAC (which Vaz chairs) said, "It is unacceptable that UKBA refuses to recognise the term 'Bogus Colleges' and that it makes half of its inspections announced."
At sector association,
English UK, chief executive Tony Millns said they would have no issue with such an approach – the competency of inspectors being the biggest issue for his members. “There’s nothing wrong with no-notice inspections as long as the inspectors are competent and know what they are looking for. In the case of educational institutions, unfortunately, we know that this is not always the case and that the inspectors get things wrong.
[caption id="attachment_8178" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Keith Vaz MP, who called UKBA "unfit for purpose" at a recent conference[/caption]
“If inspectors are going to turn up at no notice, they need to be well-trained, well briefed and well-informed about what they are supposed to be looking for.”
The latest HAC
report also criticises UKBA for failing to deport a significant number of foreign national prisoners; complained that the e-borders programme was not on track to include rail and sea operations by 2014; lampooned the UK£9.1m cost of Iris scanners which are being closed down after only five years of operation; and accused UKBA of failing to control data and manage its "controlled archive" - details of visa holders who can no longer be traced.
“There’s nothing wrong with no-notice inspections as long as the inspectors are competent"
"The reputation of the Home Office, and by extension, the UK Government, is being tarnished by the inability of the UK Border Agency to fulfil its basic functions," said Vaz.
He continued, "The so-called 'controlled archive', the dumping ground for cases where the UK Border Agency has lost track of the applicant, will take a further 4 years to clear at the current rate of resolution. This is unacceptable."
In further reporting in
The Guardian, it was reported that concern over multiple visa applications by the same individual was being made. HAC has called for the agency to assess the implications of imposing a limit on the number of times an individual can apply for a visa.
The National Audit Office also
reported recently on UKBA operations and managed to locate 812 overstayers within a week that UKBA has been unable to trace.
The UK Home Affairs Select Committee (HAC) has produced its third report of the year into the work of the UK Border Authority (UKBA) and there was more criticism of UKBA operations. MPs called on UKBA to ensure that inspections to Tier 4 sponsors (education establishments) must be unannounced.
Echoing comments made by Keith Vaz MP at the recent Universities UK debate, HAC (which Vaz chairs) said, “It is unacceptable that UKBA refuses to recognise the term ‘Bogus Colleges’ and that it makes half of its inspections announced.”
At sector association, English UK, chief executive Tony Millns said they would have no issue with such an approach – the competency of inspectors being the biggest issue for his members. “There’s nothing wrong with no-notice inspections as long as the inspectors are competent and know what they are looking for. In the case of educational institutions, unfortunately, we know that this is not always the case and that the inspectors get things wrong.
Keith Vaz MP, who called UKBA “unfit for purpose” at a recent conference
“If inspectors are going to turn up at no notice, they need to be well-trained, well briefed and well-informed about what they are supposed to be looking for.”
The latest HAC report also criticises UKBA for failing to deport a significant number of foreign national prisoners; complained that the e-borders programme was not on track to include rail and sea operations by 2014; lampooned the UK£9.1m cost of Iris scanners which are being closed down after only five years of operation; and accused UKBA of failing to control data and manage its “controlled archive” – details of visa holders who can no longer be traced.
“There’s nothing wrong with no-notice inspections as long as the inspectors are competent”
“The reputation of the Home Office, and by extension, the UK Government, is being tarnished by the inability of the UK Border Agency to fulfil its basic functions,” said Vaz.
He continued, “The so-called ‘controlled archive’, the dumping ground for cases where the UK Border Agency has lost track of the applicant, will take a further 4 years to clear at the current rate of resolution. This is unacceptable.”
In further reporting in The Guardian, it was reported that concern over multiple visa applications by the same individual was being made. HAC has called for the agency to assess the implications of imposing a limit on the number of times an individual can apply for a visa.
The National Audit Office also reported recently on UKBA operations and managed to locate 812 overstayers within a week that UKBA has been unable to trace.
