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Helen Ghosh: Extra border relaxation 'never mentioned' Helen Ghosh: Extra border relaxation 'never mentioned'
(40 minutes later)
The Home Office's top civil servant has told MPs Brodie Clark never mentioned the extra checks he dropped in his reports on an approved pilot scheme.The Home Office's top civil servant has told MPs Brodie Clark never mentioned the extra checks he dropped in his reports on an approved pilot scheme.
It was "disingenuous" for the ex-border force chief to say he was covered by rules allowing checks to be eased for safety reasons, Dame Helen Ghosh said.It was "disingenuous" for the ex-border force chief to say he was covered by rules allowing checks to be eased for safety reasons, Dame Helen Ghosh said.
The home affairs committee is probing claims passport checks were eased further than agreed by Theresa May. Immigration Minister Damian Green said that "under no circumstances" could existing guidance justify such a move.
Mr Clark told the committee last week he had not ignored government policy.Mr Clark told the committee last week he had not ignored government policy.
The home affairs committee is probing claims passport checks were eased further than agreed by Theresa May.
Home Secretary Theresa May has said she authorised the relaxation of some checks on children from the European Economic Area (EEA), and some extra checks on EEA adults under "limited circumstances", at peak times, as part of a pilot project.Home Secretary Theresa May has said she authorised the relaxation of some checks on children from the European Economic Area (EEA), and some extra checks on EEA adults under "limited circumstances", at peak times, as part of a pilot project.
But she claims Mr Clark allowed officials to go further, relaxing fingerprint checks on non-EEA nationals without ministerial approval.But she claims Mr Clark allowed officials to go further, relaxing fingerprint checks on non-EEA nationals without ministerial approval.
Mr Clark was suspended following the allegations and later resigned, saying his position had been made untenable by Mrs May's statements.Mr Clark was suspended following the allegations and later resigned, saying his position had been made untenable by Mrs May's statements.
GuidelinesGuidelines
Last week, Mr Clark told the committee he believed the decision by staff at Heathrow to relax fingerprint checks at particularly busy times was a sensible one and he did not stop it.Last week, Mr Clark told the committee he believed the decision by staff at Heathrow to relax fingerprint checks at particularly busy times was a sensible one and he did not stop it.
He admitted he did not inform ministers about it, despite knowing the home secretary had rejected the possibility of relaxing those same checks as part of the pilot scheme.He admitted he did not inform ministers about it, despite knowing the home secretary had rejected the possibility of relaxing those same checks as part of the pilot scheme.
He said he believed the Immigration Minister Damian Green and the former security minister, Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, would have been told about "practices and activities" at the border during "critical" times.He said he believed the Immigration Minister Damian Green and the former security minister, Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, would have been told about "practices and activities" at the border during "critical" times.
Mr Clark said guidelines written in 2007 allowed for the relaxation of some checks at busy times.Mr Clark said guidelines written in 2007 allowed for the relaxation of some checks at busy times.
However, the guidelines do not mention fingerprint checks and do not allow the foregoing of any checks on non-EEA nationals. However, the guidelines do not mention fingerprint checks and do not allow the dropping of any checks on non-EEA nationals.
Mr Green has told the House of Commons he did not authorise any extension of the pilot project beyond the terms agreed by Mrs May. During his evidence, the immigration minister told MPs it was wrong to suggest that the guidance could be "stretched" to justify the abandonment of fingerprint checks on people from outside Europe.
He said it "wouldn't permit you under any circumstances to stop taking the fingerprints of people requiring visas to enter this country".
He said he had made regular visits to UK ports and airports, but at no point had been told that the practice was going on.
"Nobody knew that officials had designated things to happen that they shouldn't have," he said.
"I can only assume... that the people actually on the front line didn't know that what they were doing, or weren't doing, was somehow without ministerial responsibility."
Pay-off
The committee also heard last week from Rob Whiteman, the chief executive of the UK Border Agency - of which the border force is a part, whose decision it was to suspend Mr Clark.The committee also heard last week from Rob Whiteman, the chief executive of the UK Border Agency - of which the border force is a part, whose decision it was to suspend Mr Clark.
Mr Whiteman said the possibility of Mr Clark retiring rather than facing an internal investigation had been raised.Mr Whiteman said the possibility of Mr Clark retiring rather than facing an internal investigation had been raised.
But he said Home Office permanent secretary Dame Helen Ghosh had intervened and ruled that retirement with a pay-off would not be appropriate given there was a potential disciplinary matter involved.But he said Home Office permanent secretary Dame Helen Ghosh had intervened and ruled that retirement with a pay-off would not be appropriate given there was a potential disciplinary matter involved.
Dame Helen was asked about the retirement discussion by MPs, telling them that she had objected to the idea of Mr Clark being given "enhanced retirement" package.Dame Helen was asked about the retirement discussion by MPs, telling them that she had objected to the idea of Mr Clark being given "enhanced retirement" package.
This was because she thought it "was wrong" given that he had been suspended on the basis of claims that could amount to gross misconduct.This was because she thought it "was wrong" given that he had been suspended on the basis of claims that could amount to gross misconduct.
She said had no power to stop Mr Clark retiring with standard provisions, she said, adding that there had been no pressure from the Home Secretary, Theresa May.She said had no power to stop Mr Clark retiring with standard provisions, she said, adding that there had been no pressure from the Home Secretary, Theresa May.
Mr Green gave figures to the committee that suggested the pilot scheme was a success - despite it having been suspended following the recent allegations.
He said that in August and September 2010, before it was introduced, there were 737 and 661 "clandestines" apprehended at the borders, while in the same months in 2011, under the pilot, the figures were 809 and 721.
In terms of the number of forged documents identified, Mr Green said 128 and 121 were found in August and September 2010, compared with 135 and 179 in the same months a year later.