David Amess (Southend West, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has taken account of the published anti-Semitic views of any individuals seeking to enter the United Kingdom when deciding whether to grant entry to such individuals in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas (Minister of State (the North West), Home Office; Oldham East & Saddleworth, Labour)

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 March 2009, Hansard, column 462W and would re-affirm that where there is clear, reliable evidence that a person has engaged in unacceptable behaviour, which would include inciting racial or religious hatred, consideration will be given to whether or not that person should be refused entry to the United Kingdom.

This may be at the entry clearance application stage, where applicable, or when a person arrives at the port of entry. In certain cases the Home Secretary may personally decide that a person should be excluded from the United Kingdom.

Figures on the number of refusals of entry to the United Kingdom on the basis of the published anti-Semitic views of individuals are not recorded centrally.