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Outrage at Minister's 'brave staff' bonuses defence
Home Office Minister Phil Woolas provoked outrage yesterday after he claimed immigration officials were "putting their lives on the line" for the country.
Mr Woolas said staff at the UK Border Agency were "very brave" as he sought to defend bonuses of more than 10,000 each for 29 senior officials.
Critics said his comments were "deeply insensitive" at a time when British troops were fighting in Afghanistan.
They came following the death of the 100th member of the Armed Forces to be killed in the conflict this year. He was shot dead in Helmand province.
Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a former British Army Officer said: "I think this is another extraordinary statement.
"It's deeply insensitive to make these statements the day after the 100th member of the Armed Forces was killed in Afghanistan this year."
Mr Woolas made the comments on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme following the publication of a highly-critical report by MPs into the immigration system.
The Home Affairs Select Committee report said the agency was still "not fit for purpose" years after revelations about foreign prisoners and the backlog of asylum claims.
Mr Woolas told presenter John Humphrys: "I think the UK Border Agency should be praised - they are very brave men and women who protect our borders and they are getting on top of the situation.
"The chair of the (Home Affairs) Select Committee has said we are not yet fit for purpose and I'm defending my staff who put their lives on the line for us."
The committee's chairman, Keith Vaz, criticised the bonuses as "astonishing" given recent revelations that officials had lost track of tens of thousands of immigrants.
Earlier this year the agency admitted there were 40,000 cases where there was "no formal record" of whether immigrants had left the country.
In a statement the Minister denied he was comparing immigration staff to British troops in Afghanistan and said it was ridiculous to suggest it.
"UK Border Agency frontline officers work 24/7 at our ports around the country and posts abroad to protect our border, and in daily operations in partnership with the police to arrest and deport foreign criminals in often difficult and dangerous situations," he said.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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