Carmichael and Williams campaign against UKBA's 'selective representations'

Thursday, 26, Nov 2009 12:00

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Northern Ireland Alistair Carmichael MP and Liberal Democrat Welsh MP Mark Williams today joined forces to campaign against the UK Border Agency (UKBA) who refuse to accept representations from Welsh and Northern Ireland Assembly members.

Mr Carmichael has received concerning reports from colleagues in the Liberal Democrats sister party in Northern Ireland the ‘Alliance Party’ who inform Mr Carmichael the UKBA will not accept representations from Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Mark Williams MP confirmed he has had similar cases bought to him from Welsh Assembly Members.

Mr Carmichael today raised his concerns in the House of Commons Chamber, with Leader of the House of Commons, Harriett Harman MP –

Speaking during Business Questions Mr Carmichael asked –

“Can we have an early debate on the UKBA which would doubtless allow many members the opportunity to ventilate their frustrations in dealing with what is probably one of the most inefficient and inhumane agencies of government. It would also allow someone from the Home Office to explain why the agency will not engage and will not take representations from MLA’s in Northern Ireland and Assembly Members in Wales although it will take them from MSP’s in Scotland. Surely it is not for bureaucrats to determine who people should turn to when faced with the intransigence of an agency like that.”

Leader of the House, Harriett Harman MP replied –

“The UKBA is an agency which has a very very big responsibility on behalf of people in this country and it has greatly improved the work it does. He raises the point on behalf of whom they will receive representations from and I will ask my honorable friend the Minister in the Home office to deal with that point. I think there is a point of substance that we want to make absolutely sure that they receive representations where they are appropriate.”

Commenting Mark Williams MP said –

“UKBA are giving the Welsh Assembly unofficial second-class status – it is not acceptable for them to dictate how important Wales’s elected representatives are.

“Assembly Members have the same legitimacy as any other elected representative, and should be free to carry out any casework that is brought to them.

“Jeopardising people’s immigration status over semantics is ludicrous, and someone in the Home Office urgently needs to give UKBA a lesson on devolution.”

Commenting after his exchange, Mr Carmichael said –

“A little bit of humility on behalf of the UKBA would go a long way. They are probably one of the most dysfunctional departments of government and they should realise the impact that their own inefficiency has on the lives of many people.

“They should not be in the business of dictating to citizens who they should go to in order to get help with immigration problems. I look forward to hearing what the Home Office Minister has to say about this and I will be continuing to campaign for the UKBA to show a bit of common sense.”