text:
You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Committee Publications > All Select Committee Publications > Commons Select Committees > Home Affairs > Home Affairs
Session 2010-12
Home Affairs Committee - Minutes of EvidenceHC 1722
Oral Evidence
Taken before the Home Affairs Committee
on Tuesday 20 December 2011
Keith Vaz (Chair)
Nicola Blackwood
Mr James Clappison
Michael Ellis
Dr Julian Huppert
Steve McCabe
Alun Michael
Mark Reckless
Mr David Winnick
Witness: Rob Whiteman, Chief Executive, UK Border Agency.
Q1 Chair: Mr Whiteman, good morning. I apologise for keeping you waiting. We are on the last day of the session and have selected three different topics so you will excuse the Committee switching gear to think about the UKBA, something that I think you do every moment of every day. How are you finding the job?
Rob Whiteman: I am thoroughly enjoying it, thank you, Chairman. I have had a lively first three months but am thoroughly enjoying it and looking forward now to the challenges of the future and improving the agency.
Q2 Chair: Indeed. Leaving the Brodie Clark issue aside, because this is our normal way of looking at the work of the UKBA, as you know, the Committee decided about a year ago that we would send a series of questions to the head of the UKBA, then take evidence and produce a report. It is our ambition, if things work out, that by the time this Parliament ends, instead of doing it three times a year we should be able to do it once a year. The Home Secretary is very keen, since your appointment, to have someone who is going to turn this agency around.
I do not want you to talk about personalities at this moment, because obviously you deal with people on a regular basis, but tell me about the culture at the UKBA. As someone just coming in with no history of involvement in the UKBA from a local authority background, are there immediate issues that cause you concern about how the system operates, rather than about individuals? We do not want you to talk about individuals.
Rob Whiteman: Yes. The cause of concern is creating a compliance culture. The UKBA is a curate's egg; it is good in parts. I come across people of enormous talent and commitment who are very dedicated to the duties that they are carrying out. On the other hand, the organisation has poor morale in places, and there is a detachment between senior management and front-line staff.
The two big cultural challenges for the next year or so are creating a compliance culture whereby we know that we have proper assurance systems to ensure that the systems, the rules, the procedures and the practices that we put in place are being followed. I am doing two things in that regard, which I will mention before I cover the second issue. First, we are creating a new strategy and intelligence directorate, where we will take the intelligence flows and the way that rules should operate from different parts of the agency and put that into a corporate role, to then work with each of the directors on the assurance that we want from their area.
Secondly, we are creating a new enforcement and criminality directorate, which will deal with the professional standards that we adhere to when we are visiting premises, and when we are dealing with the public and carrying out law enforcement duties. They are two important changes, which I think will yield good results in terms of better compliance and assurance. Over the years, we will have all seen cases where things have not happened in accordance with the procedures that we think should happen, and I want to put that to an end.
The second issue is the detachment between senior management and staff. Morale is low, and I have really to make sure that senior managers have the competence and the capability not only to be good in terms of management functions such as budgeting and performance management but to be much more closely aligned with staff. We are doing a lot of work, Chairman, such as carrying out a regional tour and taking senior managers with me, holding large staff meetings-I did a meeting in Sheffield last week for 800 staff-revamping our suggestions schemes and getting staff involved in quality circles. I hope work on those two big cultural issues of compliance and morale will see the agency become a much more dynamic organisation over the next couple of years.
Q3 Chair: Excellent. May I thank you for the clarity of your response to my letter to you? Predecessors of yours have tended to refer the Committee to websites and have not given us facts and figures. This is precisely the format we would like. It would have been nice if it could have been on time, but we are grateful for the format and the speed with which you dealt with these issues. I will now turn to some specific points before we look at the operation of the UKBA. I mentioned the Brodie Clark case. Is it correct that Graeme Kyle and Carole Upshall have now been cleared of any misconduct and have been reinstated?
Rob Whiteman: Yes.
Q4 Chair: Who cleared them?
Rob Whiteman: You will remember that David Wood, who is one of our directors, carried out a management investigation under our disciplinary procedures to see if they had a case to answer. The result of his investigation was a report to me saying that they did not have a case to answer. They were cleared of any charges and, therefore, we have brought them both back to work.
Q5 Chair: So David Wood's report does not include an examination of the conduct of Brodie Clark-that is John Vine's report?
Rob Whiteman: John Vine's is an independent inquiry into the circumstances in which checks were being carried out and the interchange of information between Brodie and the organisation. These were two different reports. These were the specific management reports, one on Graeme Kyle and one on Carole Upshall, both of whom have been returned to work.
Chair: Mr Reckless has a question on this point.
Q6 Mark Reckless: Mr Clark provided us with a memo in which, after John Vine's visit to Heathrow, he followed up and passed on the concerns expressed about the number of times checks had been lifted. Was that memo acted on? If not, why has Mr Kyle been cleared?
Rob Whiteman: Remembering that this was a management investigation, and therefore I had a duty to my employee that this was investigated under the disciplinary procedures, the outcome of the investigation was that Mr Kyle had not deliberately been part of suspending checks against ministerial authority, and that those issues rested with Mr Clark. Mr Kyle was involved in the operations, but as you will remember, Mr Reckless, we discussed last time that the specific issue was that things happened expressly against Ministers' instruction. In the opinion of the investigating officer, Dave Wood, both Carole Upshall and Graeme Kyle were acting within what they believed to be agreed operational frameworks.
Q7 Chair: Thank you. Let us move on to a number of other quick points. Jonathan Sedgwick talked to us a week ago about the Lille loophole, the ability to obtain a ticket in Brussels and travel all the way to London without having your documents looked at. Jonathan Sedgwick said that discussions were taking place last week between the Belgian authorities and Eurostar officials. Has this now happened? Are you now satisfied that this loophole has been closed? The Committee is very concerned that people are able to enter in this way.
Rob Whiteman: Jonathan has had two meetings with Belgian colleagues, and I have had discussions with the chief executive of Eurostar. Those negotiations are still taking place, Chairman, and will take place into the early new year, but we will put operational safeguards in place.
Q8 Chair: So is that still the case? Can you still get a ticket in Brussels and end up in London?
Rob Whiteman: The issue, Chairman, is that we want people to get off the train at Lille if they have only bought a ticket to go to Lille. You will know that we carry out checks at both St Pancras and Lille. Indeed, last year, at both stations, we found about 300 people who we removed from the train.
Q9 Chair: But how can we get them off the train in Lille without the co-operation of the French?
Rob Whiteman: That is what we are discussing at the moment with Eurostar and our Belgian and French counterparts. It will be a mixture of several issues. If you don't mind, Chairman-obviously, it is up to you-I would rather not go into the detail of the negotiations that are taking place with Eurostar.
Q10 Chair: We don't want the detail. We just want to know-
Rob Whiteman: I am happy to confirm that we are looking at the operations that take place at the station, what happens on the train itself, what happens during the rest of the operation of the journey to the UK and what we do at St Pancras. We are looking at operational fixes for all those areas. The strategic issue, of course, is that while that loophole is a concern, we must look at this within the framework of a negotiated treaty. Juxtaposed controls have been an enormous-
Q11 Chair: Which treaty are you talking about?
Rob Whiteman: These are the treaties that set up juxtaposed controls: the treaty of Dover, I think.1
Chair: Mr Clappison has come hotfoot from the European Scrutiny Committee, so he knows all about these treaties.
Q12 Mr Clappison: We were told last week by your colleague that on a proportion of the trains coming from Brussels and stopping at Lille, tickets are checked at St Pancras. Have you picked up people in the course of those ticket checks who had overstayed and who should have got off at Lille?
Rob Whiteman: Yes. I don't know if you heard me, Mr Clappison, but I was saying that checks that we have carried out at St Pancras have resulted in 160 people over the last year being stopped at St Pancras because of the Lille issue.
Q13 Mr Clappison: But as we heard last week, not every train's passengers are checked at St Pancras in that way. Therefore, we can assume that that was a proportion of people who are getting through.
Rob Whiteman: We think that the checks that have been carried out, and the fact that we have been stopping people at both Lille and St Pancras, act as a deterrent, so people can see that we are taking action. I absolutely accept that we want to do more, and as I was saying to the Committee, Mr Clappison, we are in detailed negotiations with Eurostar and with the Belgian and French authorities.
Q14 Mr Clappison: Two questions arise from that: are the people who you pick up then returned to Belgium or France?
Q15 Mr Clappison: What is to prevent them from trying to do it again?
Rob Whiteman: Hopefully, the fact that they have been stopped creates the message that we are policing and making checks. We are in detailed discussions now with Eurostar, and I hope that next time I appear before the Committee, we will have been able to put extra operational things in place. I know that it is frustrating that this loophole has been around for a number of-
Q16 Chair: Do you accept that it is a loophole? We had to drag the word "loophole" out of Mr Sedgwick.
Rob Whiteman: You have not dragged it out of me. Juxtaposed controls have been of enormous benefit to the UK. You will remember that asylum numbers are the lowest since 1989. We have to negotiate these fixes with Eurostar and with the Belgian and French authorities, but we are trying to do that very urgently.
Q17 Mr Clappison: I appreciate that you are doing your best on this; I completely appreciate that, but we have to investigate how serious the potential breach could be. The advantage of juxtaposed controls is that they stop people before they get to this country and, as I think you implied, are able to claim asylum. Even those who have overstayed from Lille who are stopped at St Pancras, would be in a position to claim asylum. Have any of those 120 in fact done so?
Rob Whiteman: Not to my knowledge, Mr Clappison, but I will gladly check on that when I am back in the office and I will update you in my next report.
Q18 Mark Reckless: On Mr Clappison's point, this is a key issue, because as he said, once they get to St Pancras, they can claim asylum and even when they are apprehended, they do not necessarily go back. You said earlier though that they are returned to France or Belgium.
Rob Whiteman: We do make returns, and all our efforts through the negotiation are about what extra provisions we now put in place in Brussels and Lille and on the train to avoid the problem that Mr Clappison raised. We have the fallback of making checks at St Pancras, but, of course, we want to operate our border in Belgium and France, and they are the negotiations taking place at the moment to try to strengthen our arrangements.
Q19 Mark Reckless: It would be very helpful if you could give us a breakdown of what happens to those apprehended at St Pancras. On the Lille loophole, it has been reported as an issue with Brussels trains. What happens with checking that people on Paris trains who are meant to be getting off in Lille do so? Is it the same issue as Brussels or is there something better that we can learn from?
Rob Whiteman: For the Paris trains, people have been through our controls. The issue here is that under Schengen, people are not checked between Belgium and France, or that they stay on the train, even though they have a ticket for Lille. It is an issue of going over the Belgian-French border, because they are both Schengen countries.
Q20 Mark Reckless: But the French are happy for Paris-to-Lille people to go through our checks?
Chair: To summarise Lille, the Committee remains very unhappy about the situation. We are glad that the negotiations are taking place. We look forward to hearing in your next report that there has been a real tightening up, because we are very concerned about these people coming in through this loophole. We thank you for your clarity on that.
Before I turn to the controlled archive, may I ask about Eamus Cork Solutions, the new body that is taking over our borders? It is a £7.1 million deal to replace UKBA staff who search for illegal immigrants, smugglers and terror suspects at two checkpoints in Dunkirk. There are newspaper reports that those guards have been found sleeping on duty and allowing immigrants to escape detention centres. Are you aware of that, and if so, is something being done, not just to wake up the guards, but to tell the company that it simply cannot take £7.1 million of public money and not do its job?
Rob Whiteman: I am aware of the allegation and we are investigating it. In the first instance, people go through the UKBA checks and our staff have the opportunity to check vehicles. The vehicles that our own staff-UKBA-determine not to check, we can then pass on to ECS to carry out other technical checks in order to look for clandestines. I am aware of the allegations and we will investigate them in full.
Q21 Chair: But do you know of any other country that allows a private, overseas company to look after its borders in this way?
Rob Whiteman: The decisions about the border, in the first instance-
Q22 Chair: This may have happened before you arrived, so I am not holding you responsible. It seems rather odd.
Rob Whiteman: People are going through the UKBA checks and our staff are checking the vehicles in the first instance. They then go through ECS checks, which we consider to be a value for money way of operating those checks.2 However, Chairman, I will gladly look, and am looking, at the allegations that have been made, and will update the Committee in the future.
Q23 Chair: Excellent, and you can give us an assurance that the contract for Calais will not be issued to ECS until you are satisfied they are doing a proper job.
Rob Whiteman: I am not sure when the contract was let, Chair, but I will look at those issues.
Q24 Chair: Thank you. Let us turn to the controlled archive. The Committee was very concerned, and has been for a number of years, about the number of cases in the controlled archive. We were given the figure of 124,000 people-about the size of Cambridge-the last time your predecessor was here. Is it going up or down?
Rob Whiteman: It is going down. As at the moment, the controlled archive stands at 93,000 cases. My view on this is that there are three elements to it. What we want to do is put in extra checks and effort and capability. Going into next year, going into 12/13, I want that to be the last year that we start the year with the archive in place. I would like to close it by March 2013.
Q25 Chair: So what has happened to the 31,000 people? We were told 124,000. 93,000 are currently in there. What has become of the 31,000?
Rob Whiteman: The 124,000 is two figures put together, aren't they Chair?
Chair: Yes, they are.
Rob Whiteman: It is the 98,000 asylum cases, with the 26,000 other immigration cases. If I can put the 26,000 other immigration cases to one side for a second-
Q26 Chair: Okay, so of the 98,000, let's be specific.
Rob Whiteman: Of the 98,000, that now stands at 93,000.
Q27 Chair: What has happened to the 5,000 people?
Rob Whiteman: There is a mixture of two things there. Data matching has taken place, because, remember, these are cases, not people. In working through the archive, one finds that there are matches to other cases which have been included.
Q28 Chair: I accept that. Can you give us specific figures? Of the 5,000, what percentage have been granted the right to stay, what percentage have been described as data cleansing, and what percentage have been sent out of the country? We must know, after the 5,000.
Rob Whiteman: The majority of those cases, Chair, have been through data-checking matches.
Chair: Of the 5,000.
Rob Whiteman: The figures are-sorry, I am just looking here.
Q29 Chair: Is this your question 1? 7,700 cases have been concluded. Of these, 4,500 have been granted, 700 have been removed and 2,500 have been data cleansed, whatever that means.
Rob Whiteman: Sorry, Chairman, I think that refers to the live archive. No, I am very sorry, you are right.3
Q30 Chair: This is the answer to question 1?
Q31 Chair: So, it is actually not 5,000; it is 7,700 cases. Of those 7,700 cases, more than half have been granted the right to stay, and only 700 out of 7,700 have been removed. Is that right?
Rob Whiteman: No, the 7,000 we are referring to is the live archive going from 23,000 to 17,000, and of those cases, you then have the figures on 4,500 grants and 700 removal.
Q32 Chair: So people can follow what we are saying, and so we don't sound as if we are on "Countdown", the Cambridge figure, as we can call it, the 124,000, consists of 98,000. We cannot find these people-
Rob Whiteman: That figure is going down because of 5,100 that are the result of data cleansing, and 900 conclusions where, through checking those cases, we have been able to conclude them.
Q33 Chair: So the 98,000 has gone down to 93,000.
Q34 Chair: And of those 5,000, 4,100 of them were actually data cleansed. What exactly does data cleansed mean, just so we are clear?
Michael Ellis: It sounds horrible.
Chair: Mr Ellis is getting worried.
Rob Whiteman: It is 5,100 that were data cleansed, because the figure goes down to 92,000.
Q35 Chair: It's 92,000 now?
Rob Whiteman: And then another 1,000 cases-work in progress-have been added to it. So it is: 98,000 to 92,000 to 93,000.
Q36 Chair: Right.
Rob Whiteman: Of the cases that were concluded, 900 are concluded and 5,100 are data cleansing-that essentially, Chairman, is where we have found that the cases matched with other cases which have been concluded.
Q37 Chair: So double counting?
Q38 Chair: Okay. So 5,100 were there in error, basically, because they had been double-counted, but 900 have been concluded?
Q39 Chair: Of part B-maybe we can call it north Cambridge?-the 26,000 cases, what is that now? The live archive?
Rob Whiteman: The live archive remains at 26,000.
Q40 Chair: So it has not changed?
Rob Whiteman: There are two things that I would like to brief the Committee on. First, the 93,000-
Q41 Chair: Tell us about the 26,000. Why has that not changed in three months?
Rob Whiteman: The 26,000 are relatively old cases. They have a long profile, and it has not moved at the moment. Therefore, we are looking at the arrangements for the team covering that, and we will set targets in order to bring it down.
Q42 Chair: So it is not a live archive; it is a dead archive, because it does not move?
Rob Whiteman: I hope I can demonstrate today that on the larger archive-
Q43 Chair: The 98,000?
Rob Whiteman: The 98,000. In my three months here, I think we have made real progress in understanding that archive. I think that we will now make real progress up over the next year and a bit to bring it-
Q44 Chair: On the north Cambridge?
Rob Whiteman: No, this is south Cambridge, I think. I would like to close the larger archive by the end of the next financial year. There are three types of case in there. There are cases where people are no longer in the country. In the future, we will carry out embarkation checks and know that.
In the absence of embarkation checks in the period when these cases happened, how do we prove that they are no longer here? There are cases where we will make a trace, and there are cases where we will make a data match. From the thorough investigations that I have had on these issues, I think that we will bring down the archive by at least 30,000 to 40,000 cases.
Q45 Chair: In 12 months?
Rob Whiteman: Up to the end of the next financial year. At that stage, when it is below 50,000, we should have set, during the year-I will gladly discuss this with the Committee-the criteria by which we can be certain that those people have left the country, because we will have seen how many times we carried out the checks and how long it is since we have had-
Q46 Chair: I understand.
Rob Whiteman: And then close the archive at the end of next year.
Q47 Chair: So within 12 months of today's date, by next Christmas, you will have closed the larger part of the archive-part one, the 98,000? And you are confident that you can do this, because you have found that the vast majority of the cases you have cleared in the past few months, since you have been there, actually do not exist-they are double-counted?
Rob Whiteman: We have found data matching issues. We have also found some cases where we have then made a trace. You have been briefed in the past, Chairman, that at the time the legacy was concluded and these cases were put into the archive, there was no contact. Of course, every review period, we go and check the databases again and find that, in that period, a trace has been made. It will be a mixture of data matching and finding traces. Then the live cohort will get bigger, because they will become live cases again, but I believe that we will bring the archive down to below 50,000.
Q48 Chair: But of your live archive of 26,000, your final figure today is what? What is it now, because I think people are confused? Of the second part, the smaller part-the live archive of 26,000-what is that figure today?
Rob Whiteman: There are three things that we are talking about. There is the 93,000. I believe we will get that down to-
Q49 Chair: Zero.
Rob Whiteman: We will get it to below 50,000-
Q50 Chair: And by the end of this financial year?
Rob Whiteman: In order to be certain that they have left the country. There is then the figure of 26,000, which are older immigration cases.
Q51 Chair: Yes. As of today, what is that figure?
Rob Whiteman: That is 26,000.
Q52 Chair: It remains the same?
Rob Whiteman: And that is older immigration cases. Then there is the live archive, which was 23,000 cases. These are cases where we still had checks on people, and that is now down to 17,000, as of today. So there are three things that you have looked at in the past.
Q53 Chair: So what do the three things add up to: 93,000, 26,000 and what? [Interruption.] Dr Huppert will do this; he is a mathematician-136,000. So at the end of the day, it is actually bigger than it was three months ago?
Rob Whiteman: I think I have confused you, Chairman. I am sorry.
Q54 Chair: Yes, you certainly have-and I don't think it is just me, Mr Whiteman.
Rob Whiteman: Okay, I'll try again. The 93,000 plus 26,000 is the relevant figure for how you got to 124,000, so that figure is now 119,000.
Q55 Chair: So it has gone down.
Rob Whiteman: It has gone down. The other figure is not the archive-these are old asylum and old immigration cases. The other figure in which you have been interested in the past is that when the case resolution directorate ceased, while 98,000 cases were put in the archive, 23,000 were said to be live.
Q56 Chair: This is the case assurance and audit unit.
Rob Whiteman: That's right. Those live cases that were 23,000 now stand at 17,000.
Chair: Excellent. That is very clear. We will move on swiftly to Dr Huppert, with apologies to Cambridge-we won't use that name any more.
Q57 Dr Huppert: We could use sections of Leicester if you prefer, Chair.
I am still somewhat concerned about this. Your substantive predecessor promised us repeatedly that the whole backlog would be resolved by the summer of 2011. Mr Sedgwick, who was acting in the role before that, told us that the cases were all concluded. I have to say that that doesn't fit with my experience; I still have people coming who are still waiting to hear back.
We have been through the figures and, rather than question you about them further, I will just say that I am still very sceptical that this number will come down. Particularly, I realise that UKBA has now got rid of the target of six months to conclude cases, but do you accept that fewer than two thirds of new cases are being concluded within six months, and hence there are 1,400 cases that have taken more than six months to do, which will just continue to build up the backlog?
Rob Whiteman: I will take the issues in turn. I think that we will bring down the controlled archive in the way I have said. That won't happen by the summer of 2011. I think that the work involved is clearly more than was estimated at the time. When the legacy was concluded, the cases were put into the archive. Now that they are being worked through in a systematic way against a number of databases, the amount of work involved means, I think, that it will take until the end of 2012-13-in other words March 2013-before we can be certain that the cases that remain in it have left the country.
In terms of new asylum claims, there is some good news on asylum in that we are actioning a large proportion of cases-at the moment 56% of cases in the last quarter-within 12 months. We are getting faster at concluding them, and so a bigger number will be concluded within 12 months this year than the previous year.
Q58 Dr Huppert: So just over half are concluded within 12 months, which strikes me as quite a slow pace. But can I ask about people who are returned? You are presumably aware of the "Unsafe Return" report about Congolese returnees and the "Out of the Silence" report on Sri Lankan returnees. Are you aware of those reports?
Q59 Dr Huppert: They describe some fairly horrific torture cases of people who have been returned. How do the Government try to confirm that returnees arrive safely, and what kind of proactive monitoring is there to try to avoid our sending people back straight into torture?
Rob Whiteman: In terms of the figures, just to be clear, there are of course two things we look at: the time to take the decision and the time to conclude the case. At the moment we are making 59% of decisions within 30 days, but in terms of concluding the case, that is that the removal or the grant has taken place, at the present quarter we are operating on 56% of those happening within 12 months. Both of those are progress in terms of decisions and conclusions happening more quickly.
In terms of returns, we monitor very closely the conditions in the countries that we will return to. Of course, before people are returned, as well as our own work with the people we wish to remove, they are very often the subject of significant legal challenge and appeals. But we make every effort to ensure that our returns happen humanely and properly.
Q60 Dr Huppert: You wrote to Freedom from Torture saying that all returnees are given the telephone number of the British high commission in Colombo and that it would be inappropriate to monitor individual cases. Is that right or do you think we have some duty to try to prevent these people who we send back from being tortured?
Rob Whiteman: The whole casework is making an assessment on whether article 3 is being met in terms of people's right not to be tortured. I would argue that the whole casework is doing that. When we make a decision to return it is because in our judgment and, in most cases, through the appeals process, we have come to the view that article 3 is not being breached by the return taking place.
Q61 Dr Huppert: But given that it is evidenced that a number of people have gone back to Sri Lanka and have been tortured within a month of their return, are you arguing that your case management is not working because, clearly, if people are being tortured when they get back, you are failing to take that into account properly?
Rob Whiteman: It is an area where, because of the concerns that have been raised, we clearly do need to look at the conditions of what happens when we make returns. We think that the returns are happening in a proper and humane way. We will, of course, review that in the light of new information.
Chair: Let us move on to foreign national prisoners. James Clappison.
Q62 Mr Clappison: The vexed subject of foreign national prisoners. Can I ask you about what has been happening to foreign prisoners who have finished serving their sentences and who have then been subject to the provisions of the UK Borders Act 2007 and automatic deportation? The latest figures as of this month show that of the 5,012 foreign national prisoners who finished serving their sentences in the financial year 2010-11, 110 did not meet the deportation criteria. Do I take it from that that they are people who had been serving sentences of less than 12 months or did not otherwise meet the criteria?
Rob Whiteman: I am sorry, Mr Clappison; I will just refer to my letter. I am sorry. Could you-
Q63 Mr Clappison: It is dealing with the foreign prisoners who were released in the financial year 2010-11 and what actually happened to them, which is the subject of some interest. There were just over 5,000 such prisoners. According to the latest figures, 3,320 have been removed. Of those who have not been removed, it said that 110 did not meet the deportation criteria. I am asking you whether it is the case-you tell me if I am wrong about this as I am surmising-that they did not meet the criteria under the UK Borders Act 2007, which requires the deportation of any prisoner who had received a sentence of 12 months or more. Had these 110 prisoners received sentences of less than 12 months or not?
Rob Whiteman: It does not say so in the letter. I believe that that is the case, yes, but I do not have that information to hand. I am sorry.
Q64 Chair: Will you write to us with that information?
Rob Whiteman: Yes, gladly.
Q65 Mr Clappison: I am more concerned about the significant number-520-who had served their sentences, been considered for deportation but had been allowed to remain in the country. Can I take it that those are prisoners who had a sentence of 12 months or more and who had otherwise met the deportation criteria?
Rob Whiteman: They have met the deportation criteria, Mr Clappison. UKBA's position is that we believe people should remain in detention until the removal takes place. As the Minister made clear yesterday in an urgent question, in 90% of cases where people are not detained pending removal, it is because of the decision of the courts. Our position remains that we think people should remain in detention until the removal takes place.4
Q66 Mr Clappison: The question itself that the Minister received yesterday was rather a confused one, which came out during the course of the exchanges. It was a very confused and ill-thought-out question. But, putting that to one side, the question that I am asking you is about those 5,000 prisoners who had finished serving their sentences and who had not been deported. Can we take it that a decision has been made in those 520 cases to allow them to stay in the country? Would that be a decision taken by the courts?
Rob Whiteman: It would be, yes. In just 10% of cases, we will accept that the person can be in the community pending deportation if it is not immediate. These will be low-risk cases. In 90% of cases-and, by the time you get to more serious cases, in 100% of cases-it is a decision of the court.
Q67 Mr Clappison: I am not asking you what happens to them while they are waiting for a decision-for example, whether they are allowed to stay in the community or are subject to immigration rules.
We are told that these are people who have been allowed to stay in the country. They have been given the right to stay in the country, so presumably they will be eligible to remain in the country and apply for settlement and citizenship in due course-even though they have been considered for deportation, having committed serious offences resulting in more than 12 months' imprisonment.
Rob Whiteman: Yes. They are not being given leave to remain at the moment, but we are not able to remove them.5
Q68 Mr Clappison: You are not able to remove them. I am surmising that that is something that might come about later on. If they are not removed and are allowed to remain, they start clocking up the time that is required to apply for citizenship.
Rob Whiteman: Our inability to remove them will be because of a decision of the courts.6
Q69 Mr Clappison: That is exactly what I want to find out.
Rob Whiteman: UKBA policy is that we believe that people should be detained until the removal can take place.
Q70 Mr Clappison: Have you any breakdown of the reasons that resulted in their being allowed to remain in the country-the reasons behind the judicial decisions?
Rob Whiteman: The decisions are on two counts. One is the time that it will take to remove, allowing for the appeals process. People can go through appeals processes that can take some time, and therefore the courts decide to bail them because they think it would be unreasonable to hold people in detention for that length of time. The other comes around article 8 and human rights issues, where people would argue in court that they have a right to family life and judges agree with them. UKBA's position, as I said before, is that people should be held in detention until removal. However, those we refer to as the non-detained stock are decisions of the court, not us.
Q71 Mr Clappison: You have also given us a figure of 1,060 that you say are still outstanding, with deportation being pursued. I take it that the people you referred to in the first category actually fall within that. We have been told that there are 520 who have been allowed to remain in the country. I take it from that that there is a positive decision that they can stay in the country; it is not just that they are waiting and have been allowed to stay here while their appeal is being heard.
Rob Whiteman: No. We are not making a decision that those 520 can remain in the country at this stage.7
Q72 Mr Clappison: How many of those are article 8 cases?
Rob Whiteman: Article 8 in general for our appeals is about 60%, but I don't have a figure for this particular cohort.
Chair: Thank you. I say to colleagues that the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice is outside the door. We need to put brief questions to Mr Whiteman, and I am sure he will respond with brief answers.
Rob Whiteman: I am sorry.
Chair: No. It is not your fault. We are tempting you. It is always fascinating to have you here. Michael Ellis.
Q73 Michael Ellis: Mr Whiteman, you have responded about the courts being responsible for the decisions as far as release is concerned. One area where I presume the courts will not have had an impact is that there are apparently more than 2,500 foreign national prisoners who are living in the community now, who were released during the period of the previous Government more than two years ago. What can UKBA do, and what is it doing, about deporting them?
Rob Whiteman: First, it will be due to decisions of the court that they are in the community, albeit for more than two years. As I said earlier, UKBA policy is that we believe people should be held in detention pending removal.
Q74 Michael Ellis: Can I just clarify? The UKBA policy is that they be held in detention. Does that mean that on every occasion the UKBA applies to the courts for the individual to be detained, and the courts then find against the UKBA?
Rob Whiteman: In 90% of cases where people are non-detained it is a decision of the court.
Q75 Michael Ellis: That does not quite answer my question about whether the UKBA applies to the court for them to be detained on every occasion.
Rob Whiteman: We apply for detention in the vast majority of cases. There is a small number-10% in terms of the outcome-where we do not apply.8
Q76 Michael Ellis: So the courts are responsible for them being in the community at the moment, as opposed to in detention. Nevertheless, what is the UKBA able to do about deporting them as they have now been released more than two years ago?
Rob Whiteman: The job here, which is one of our challenges, is that while we are getting quicker at foreign national prisoners being deported-people going through the early release scheme is now 43% of people who are removed quickly-we have this cohort of people where decisions of the court are ongoing and/or we are not able to deport them. The strategy here is to create a pipeline in order for the removal to take place.
You will have been briefed in the past that there are countries where it is more difficult to return to than others, such as Somalia etc. What we are doing is to work very hard on establishing that we can make returns to those countries-charter flight returns-in order to create a pipeline for those returns to happen. Those older cases of two years we want to see come down, and we want to see removals taking place-
Q77 Michael Ellis: Is it your contention that most of the delay is therefore due to the originating country and the problems in securing authority to send the individual back?
Rob Whiteman: Primarily, there are two challenges. The first issue is that the person gives a false identity. We have cases in which people will claim to be of a particular nationality but have no documentation, and we have to carry out extensive investigative work in order to establish identity. A recent removal to Jamaica involved going over and questioning family, looking for aliases and finding false names, in order to establish who the person was. People very often give false identities.
The second issue is then getting documentation from the country in order to make the return. On both those fronts, we need to improve our investigative capability. You know that we have the RALON network-
Q78 Chair: Perhaps you could write to us with all the things that you are doing.
Rob Whiteman: We need to improve our ability to work with those countries, both to investigate identity and then to get documents to return the person.
Chair: Thank you. If you could write to us with a note, that would be very helpful. David Winnick on immigration appeals.
Mr Winnick: I came in rather late in the day, so-
Q79 Chair: While you are gathering your thoughts, Mr Winnick, on the 18-month position that Minister Damian Green gave to the House yesterday, he said that the authorities would start considering removal 18 months into a sentence. My suggestion to him in the House yesterday was, why not start from the time custodial sentence begins-start earlier? Can you look at that?
Rob Whiteman: We will look at that, Chair. We are discussing with NOMS how we can work with both the police and NOMS to identify people as early as possible.
Chair: Thank you. Julian Huppert on e-gates.
Q80 Dr Huppert: There have been some reports that the UKBA staff are actively discouraging people from using e-gates at ports. Is that right?
Rob Whiteman: I am sorry, could you repeat the question?
Q81 Dr Huppert: It has been alleged in the House that the UKBA staff have been actively discouraging people from using e-gates at ports. Is that right?
Rob Whiteman: It is something that I have heard a lot and I think that it must be true in places. I visit a lot of ports with e-gates and I check that the arrangements are in place with the airport authorities and with our own staff. I think that there must be some truth to it because one hears it said so often and, indeed, when we carry out mystery shopping or read customer complaints. So it is an area that we are looking at.
Staff should not feel threatened by e-gates. E-gates and automation will allow us to carry out a more efficient border check in order that our staff can focus on the higher risk cases in which we want secondary checks to take place. If e-gates are seen as a threat, then it probably touches on the issue that we spoke about earlier, the culture and the gap between management and front-line staff.
We need to explain to staff the reasons why we think automation is a good idea, and win them over, to help people feel that it is part of making the agency more efficient. At the moment, I think there must be areas, Dr Huppert, where people think that automation will lead to further job loss. We need to allay those fears. Automation will play a part in helping us make our efficiency savings, but we also think that it should help staff in their work, and we have to win that argument with them.
Q82 Chair: Mr Whiteman, it is also said that your iris scanners do not seem to work at airports. I have returned on a number of occasions and found that people are being directed away from iris scanners. Is it your policy that these should be replaced, since they seem to be breaking down so often?
Rob Whiteman: The iris scanners are fairly old. My understanding is that we have decided to keep them on until the Olympics because we have people signed up through trusted travel schemes to use them. But we are now looking at how they should be replaced.
Q83 Chair: So it is your intention to replace the iris scanners?
Rob Whiteman: Yes, either with like-for-like kit or with something else.
Q84 Chair: Sorry, what does "like-for-like kit" mean?
Rob Whiteman: What I mean is, "Do we replace them with iris scanners, or do we have another means by which trusted travellers can get through quickly?"
Q85 Chair: And that debate is ongoing?
Q86 Mark Reckless: Mr Whiteman, the Committee has previously raised concerns about the relatively poor performance of the Home Office at immigration appeals. We are pleased to see that the proportion of cases where there is Home Office representation has increased, but we have previously been assured that the appeal record was going to improve because there were restrictions on bringing new evidence at appeal and various procedural changes had been made, which should assist the Home Office relative to the defence. We were disappointed to see that in Q1-or the first quarter-for 2011-12 there has not been any improvement and we are still seeing only a 44% dismissal rate. Could you give us any update on your expectations for progress there?
Rob Whiteman: We are committed to providing high-quality representation as far as possible. As you say, Mr Reckless, the representation rate is now much higher and we think that that will improve our quality. We have also implemented several new measures to enhance the quality of what we are doing; for example, the way that casework is presented to a court and the way that the bundles are made ready, in order that judges can have more confidence in what we are doing.
However, although we are seeing the representation rate increase, we are not seeing that leading to a higher rate of wins at the moment. That is why we think that it is not only a matter of hitting the representation rate but about the quality of what we do, so we are looking at how effective we are qualitatively, and where we are losing cases we are asking what the reasons are. Is it that we do not have evidence that we need? Is it about the way that evidence is bundled? Is it about the quality of the representation?
Q87 Mark Reckless: Previously, procedural issues were cited, in particular the ability of the defence just to come in with new evidence at the appeal stage. We were assured that, because that would now be restricted or in almost all cases-certainly in the vast majority of cases-stopped, that would assist the UKBA and the Home Office to win more of the cases. Why has that not happened so far?
Rob Whiteman: Stopping the defence from bringing in new evidence at appeal requires us to work with the judiciary, in order that higher standards are set. It may need some regulation change as well, in the way that the appeals process works. At the moment, we are not seeing that come through and it is an area of priority that I recognise we need to look at.
Q88 Mark Reckless: From your perspective, if the representative bodies of the immigration judges were amenable, would you like to work more closely with the judges and their bodies to understand these issues, and to seek to improve the quality of the representation that you provide?
Rob Whiteman: Yes. Obviously, we will look to improve the rules and the procedures, and so on, but essentially we also have to work with the judiciary and find out what their complaints are.
Chair: I am sorry, but we need to make enormous progress. You have a question on staff morale, Mr Reckless?
Q89 Mark Reckless: Yes. On that issue, there has previously been a relatively open flow of information between, say, dissatisfied junior front-line people at the UKBA and MPs and the press, when people have been dissatisfied at the UKBA or when they have felt that things have not been applied as they should have been. What steps have you been taking to try to encourage those dissatisfied junior members of staff to come to you with those issues rather than to go to MPs and the press?
Rob Whiteman: It is a really important area. Of course, people have the right to go to MPs, and so on, and I do not want to stop people exercising any other rights, but it is absolutely essential that we bridge this gap between front-line staff and senior managers. What I find is that people are really proud of their own job, of the work that they do and of the need for the role that they carry out, but there is a huge degree of detachment, in terms of where the organisation is going and confidence in management. And yet I actually see quite a good few senior managers and I think that there is a lot of ability, so we are doing a number of things. The No. 1 thing is that the senior civil service-the 70 most senior managers of the organisation-will now spend a day a fortnight out visiting front-line staff and customers, and holding staff meetings, in order to talk about progress and to have better two-way communication.
Also, in the new year we are introducing quality circles, so that when we are implementing changes, we will ask staff who are interested to become involved in making those changes happen. For example, we will ask, "How do we make our procedures better?", because we want a sense of ownership, so that when change is happening people are involved in making that change effective. In my experience of what is often called in management jargon "the contract" between staff and management-the soft term, not the hard legal contract-if staff are told, "We'll make sure you are involved as we implement change; we can't do everything you'd like, but we will listen, and you will see management compromising to make that change effective", it can do a huge amount for morale, and staff feel greater pride in the direction the organisation is taking.
Q90 Mark Reckless: Can you also give staff the assurance that if, say, in a particular area or with a particular line manager things were not working like that, and they referred something up to you, they would not thereafter have a comeback from their line management for having done that?
Rob Whiteman: Yes. Formally, of course, we have whistleblowing procedures. If people think their concern is so great that they make it known, it is dealt with anonymously.
Q91 Mark Reckless: But in terms of culture.
Rob Whiteman: In terms of culture, yes, people must be able to raise concerns. I receive quite a lot of e-mails from staff now that I am visiting many staff. In the new year, we are changing the arrangements so that I will not work all the time in Marsham Street. I want to work regularly in the places where we have most staff, such as Sheffield, Manchester-
Q92 Chair: And Croydon.
Rob Whiteman: Thank you, Chairman. I want not just to make visits there, but to work there for a day, and hold my meetings there. All that will, I believe, lead to greater two-way engagement between senior management and staff.
Q93 Chair: Until the Brodie Clark issue, some of us thought you were in Croydon. We did not realise you were in Marsham Street. At least we know now. We have no time to cover the entry clearance operation, and Mr Vine's comments about face-to-face interviews. We will write to you about that if we may, but we will make it a priority for your next visit to the Committee. I thank you for giving evidence today, and wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas, with all quiet on the border.
Rob Whiteman: Thank you very much. I would like to clarify, in answer to Mr Clappison's point, that the 520 people he referred to have been found to be exempt from deportation. I will put that in writing.
Chair: Excellent.
[1] The witnesses later clarified that , the Treaty which established the principle of Juxtaposed controls was the Treaty of Canterbury (Article 4) in 1986. Since then there have been numerous further agreements and protocols to establish juxtaposed controls for various cross Channel routes including Eurostar.
[2] The witness later clarified that, under the ECS (Eamus Cork Solutions) contract ECS provide both freight searching and detention & escorting services at Dunkirk and Calais in the British control zones. UKBA undertake a primary check where we have the opportunity to check vehicles. Following this there is a secondary line where further searches can be undertaken by UKBA, ECS and Wagtail (the dog searching contractor) to further search for those attempting to enter the UK illegally.
[3] The witness later clarified that, 7,700 cases which have been concluded refer to the live archive.
[4] The witnesses later clarified that, t he 520 are cases where deportation action has not been taken and the case is closed. This could be because the person is British, or otherwise exempt from deportation; or because the deportation criteria has not been met; or because the courts or UK Border Agency have decided that deportation would be a breach of the UK's international obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights or the Refugee Convention.
[5] The witness later clarified that, t he 520 are concluded cases. They are either already entitled to remain in the UK or have been granted some form of leave.
[6] The witness later clarified that, s ome cases will be British citizens already. Applications for citizenship from those granted leave to remain will normally be refused if the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offence and the conviction has not yet become 'spent' in accordance with the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
[7] The witness later clarified that, offered the following post scriptum: 520 are concluded cases. They are either already entitled to remain in the UK or have been granted some form of leave.
[8] The witness later clarified that, the UK Border Agency does not need to apply to a court in order to detain a person who is liable to deportation. Detainees may however apply to the court to be released on bail. Where it is the Agency's view that detention should be maintained bail applications are vigorously opposed. The majority of foreign national offenders liable to deportation who are in the community (90%) were released by the courts; the remainder (10%) were released by the UK Border Agency.
©Parliamentary copyright
Prepared 10th April 2012


Unlike pervious years where i've operated this contest from home using wires and low power at GB200T I was asked if i'd like to join the CVRS team operating M8C of course I jumped at the chance!
Few days before the contest I went and got my train ticket from Oxford to Dartford ready for leaving early saturday morning because I had lectures at university till late friday evening.
The week soon went and it was finaly time to leave for Dartford! getting on the 07:00 train to london, crossing london arriving in Dartford around 09:20, as I've never visited Dartford before from the train station I was completely lost at finding where abouts the contest station was thankfully technology pulled though and a quick phone call to Simon (m3cvn) so passed me on to Dave (G4BUO) to give me directions to the site.
After about a 3 mile walk i'd arrived and within no time at all operating the fantastic station.
Front: Me, M3PHP operating on 15m, Back: Bob M3RCV operating on 20m.
Both stations using FT1000MP's and amps and the rx station also running a FT1000MP.
Looking back at the weekend it was great fun, nice running decent power, antennas and being able to get a great rate! pile ups at times where complete madness and like normal usual lids trying to take freq's just because there wasnt a gap!
If only I could have a big beam and a quad at home!


More Juicer Recipes In Different Colors!
Here are some more juicer recipes. Not all healthy juices are green and I wanted to share some fun and healthy recipes with a different look and flavor! Just think of all the colors available to you by the different fruits and vegetables: Red, blue, purple (beets), orange, yellow etc. Enjoy all the benefits of juicing including more energy, faster recovery after workouts and a great start to your day, you need even more juice combinations.
OVER 100 EASY JUICE RECIPES!
In addition to the Vitamin C you will get: Calories 82, Fat 0, Carbohydrates 22 grams, Protein 1 gram.
Here is great orange colored juice, apple carrot juice! This has plenty of Vitamin C as well.
Calories 215, Fat 0, Carbohydrates 58 grams, Protein 1 gram.


Welcome to Dentist Nicholasville, the practice of Dr. Amanda Eschelbach, DMD. We are present in Jessamine County to advance oral health, comfort, knowledge and esthetics. Dr. Amanda Eschelbach has been providing dental care in Jessamine County since 1989 and she continues to offer quality dental care to Nicholasville and Jessamine County. We want you to be confident that your smile achieves your goals for comfort, function and appearance. We perform many procedures including dentures, teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry, crown and bridgework. We're here to make that happen!
To learn more about the comprehensive services offered by Dr. Amanda Eschelbach, take a few moments to browse our Dentist Nicholasville webpage. We encourage you to visit our patient education page which provides valuable information on dental procedures and treatment options. For additional information, you can always contact our office by calling,e-mailing or stopping in.


text:
Why Choose Us As Your Fixer In The Himalayas?
Himalaya Film Services is the most experienced international Fixer in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bhutan. Our team is comprised of the best Location Managers, Production Managers, and Producers in the region. Our base is in Dharamshala in the Dhauladhar Range and our teams are located in Kashmir, Ladakh, Kullu & Manali, Darjeeling & Sikkim, and the North East region leading all the way to Myanmar in India; Kathmandu in Nepal; Islamabad in Pakistan; and Thimpu in Bhutan. All have substantial film industry experience and a 110% work ethic.
Our Founder, Tony Cordeaux, is a Fixer in India from the UK with more than 30 years industry experience. He has been providing film production services, throughout India, for the last 15 years via his company Goa Film Services. Their international clients include: Netfilix, HBO, BBC, PBS, Channel 4, ITV, National Geographic, Discovery, History Channel, and many more. He first visited the Himalayas 27 years ago and has a genuine passion for exploration and culture in the region.
Many of our team have worked in other countries, outside the region, which means we have an international perspective. You will be communicating with professionals that understand the Himalayas inside out but also understand your point of view and how to prepare you and your team properly.
The Himalayas consist of very diverse regions with differences extending to most facets of life including politics, legislation, taxation, dominant religion, cuisine, climate, altitude, and language. We understand the significance of these nuances and have team members, or associates, who are native to most regions in the Himalayas. As your Fixer we will provide all the services you need for a successful film or TV production throughout the Himalayas. For more info please check the About Us page and our Blog page for news updates.
As your fixer in India, Nepal, and the Himalayas we offer complete production management packages. We can either work collaboratively alongside your team or handle everything for you. Our local knowledge will prove incredibly valuable to you as you plan your production . We use the industry standard Movie Magic Scheduling and Movie Magic Budgeting to provide documents in a familiar format.
Locations & Contributors
We scout film and TV locations and source contributors throughout India, Nepal and the Himalayas. The region has an amazing range of film and TV locations available. There is nowhere else on Earth where you can shoot such spectacular diverse mountain scenery and culture. As your fixer we will help you find lush green Alpine locations, stark arid mountain deserts, huge glaciers & lakes, holy rivers, beautiful traditional villages, and of course the highest mountains in the world. Click here for location pics.
Permits & Paperwork
A crucial job for any film fixer in India, Nepal, and the Himalayas is to acquire all the necessary film permits & permissions. We will provide you with an invitation letter and complete support and advice for your national permit application, then arrange all the necessary local permits and permissions for your film and TV production in the Himalayas.
Equipment & Crew
We have searched the film production centres of Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai to find suppliers with the most up-to-date and well maintained equipment. We employ highly experienced, well presented crew with a professional hard working attitude. All HODs and key members of the crew, will speak English to ensure communication is effective. All of our film fixers throughout India, Nepal, and the Himalayas have English as their first language, or are completely fluent.
Travel, Accommodation, & Catering
The quality and efficiency of the travel and accommodation arrangements for your shoot in India, Nepal, and the Himalayas will have a large impact on both the budget and success of the whole project. We will find you the best deals possible at suitable hotels and make sure that your transport is reliable. An army marches on it's stomach, and so does a film crew. Our clients have commented that our production catering is some of the best food they have eaten in the region!
Casting & Construction
Whatever you need in front of your camera we can help. We work with a network of casting agents and film fixers throughout India, Nepal, and the Himalayas to find the right talent for your film production. Art Department crew in the region are some of the most dedicated, resourceful, and creative you are likely to find anywhere in the world. Couple this with a plentiful supply of reasonably priced labour and your set can be built quickly and on budget.
Remote Shoots & Shoot to Order
If you don't have the time or budget available to travel to the Himalayas send us a brief and we will shoot your footage to order. At short notice we can send a crew anywhere in India, Nepal, Pakistan and the Bhutan to shoot footage for your production. We also offer Remote Shoot systems which put you 'virtually' on set from the comfort of your office anywhere in the World.
TV & Video Production
Using our extensive film and TV production experience we can write, shoot, and edit your Corporate Videos, Branded Content, and budget TV Commercials adding value to the messages you communicate to your clients. Including a video on your web site is an excellent way to keep potential customers engaged. We leverage our in-house facilities and experience to provide both high production value and outstanding value for money.
Free guide book – Shooting in the Himalayas
Capturing Cricket – Steve Waugh in India | Global Documentary
Ed Stafford First Man Out | Case Study
Far From Home | Case Study
Our Guy In India | Case Study
HFS Shizzle Reel 2020 | Fixer in India, Nepal, and Bhutan
First Man Out | Discovery | More Clips
Team Testimonials
caret-down caret-up caret-left caret-right
Steve Waugh Australia
"A huge effort by the team to get this done. Very proud of the outcome."
Rob Sixsmith Singapore
"From permissions to logistics, India is not a simple place to shoot and they make it a painless process. They also did a great job moving their schedule to fit in with plans that kept shifting for a thousand reasons - working round the clock to ensure all was delivered on time and up to a very demanding specification."
Trent Parke Australia
"Amazing ... what a trip .. what an experience.. Well done to Tony and Yasir and congrats to all the team."
William Riead Los Angeles
"If your intention is to film in India, this is the only place you need to go. It's a one-stop shop. You show up, they take it from there. Tony Cordeaux didn't just help with the project when we arrived in India, he made it all happen, took care of everything. I left India with what was to become an award-winning film, and I owe a major part of that to Tony and his team."
Marie-Claire Spurlock Los Angeles
"Tony Cordeaux is a creative and logistical genius and one of the nicest guys in the biz! There's nothing Tony can't do! Cannot recommend him highly enough!!!"
Amy Roff London
"I wanted to take the first opportunity I had to thank you for your patience, persistence and presence throughout set-up/filming. Things really couldn't have gone any smoother considering the last minute nature of the shoot, and I think that's largely to do with your hard work."
Delphine Lorin Los Angeles
"Thank you for being so patient and for doing such a great job last minute and with very little information. Well done, you guys!"
Laura Warner London
"Tony was a real can do guy. He fixed everything from kit to hotels and cars, but also proved really useful as a second camera op on a couple of shoots. Great guy, nothing is too much trouble!!"
+91 9922288773 / 8600660783 / 9922561196 / 8600677196
info@himalayafilms.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
SU's Teres to discuss readers' reactions in lecture 'The Grapes of Wrath: Then and Now'
Wednesday, February 23, 2005, By News Staff
SU's Teres to discuss readers' reactionsin lecture 'The Grapes of Wrath: Then and Now'February 23, 2005Edward Byrnesedbyrnes@syr.edu
Harvey Teres, professor of English in The College of Arts and Sciences, will present a lecture, "Reading The Grapes of Wrath: Then and Now," Thursday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. in the 1916 Room of SU's E.S. Bird Library. The event is free and open to the public, and parking is available at any University pay lot.
Teres, having interviewed members of the Syracuse community who are reading John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" as participants in the recent Onondaga County Public Library and Syracuse Stage community initiative "If All of Central New York Read The Grapes of Wrath," will compare their experiences with those of readers in the past. He will entertain questions about how the novel is being used to promote the values of citizenship and what role literature should play in such an endeavor.
After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1986, Teres taught at Princeton University until 1993, when he joined the SU faculty. He has written a book, "Renewing the Left: Politics, Imagination, and the New York Intellectuals" (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996); essays in "Modern Philology;" reviews in "Modernism/Modernity;" and many other articles. In 1999, he was the recipient of a Fulbright Senior Scholar grant.
The event is sponsored by SU Library Associates and is complemented by the SU Special Collections Research Center exhibition, "Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath: Bitter Fruit of the Depression," which can be viewed in the exhibits gallery on the sixth floor of E.S. Bird Library, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., through May 27, 2005. An online version of the exhibition can be viewed at http://libwww.syr.edu/digital/exhibits/g/GrapesOfWrath/. The exhibition is supported by the Peter Graham Fund for Radicalism in Literature and Art.


Since Al Golden's introduction into Miami's football program in 2011, he has achieved a 28-22 record and a .560 winning percentage. Looking at these numbers, Randy Shannon was terminated for ending the 2010 football season with a 7-5 record.
There has been much speculation as to why Golden is still the head coach and why his contract was extended to 2019. It can be said that there is plenty of talent on this squad. However, the coaching is what is lacking, beginning with our defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio. With constant backing from Golden, D'Onofrio has secured his job.
At the end of this season, with the Canes finishing with a mediocre 6-7, which includes a bowl game loss, Golden did not have much to comment, but only mentioned that he would think everything over during the off season.
Keeping Golden would create problems for the program. For example, recruiting is one of the biggest issues. So far, there have been eight decommitments from prominent high school recruits and that number is slowly rising.
A team cannot progress, add assets and improve if recruiting classes are weak.
There is a recruiting threat with Shannon becoming a Florida Gator. To truly recruit the best athletes from the state, we really need someone who can get the job done.
Other problems like losing fans and potential donors could severely cripple the athletic program.
Two great candidates for Golden's position would be former coach Butch Davis and former Hurricane and FIU head coach Mario Cristobal. Butch has expressed interest in the position if it were to become available, and Cristobal would heavily consider the offer to return to Miami from his current work in Alabama.
In Alabama, Cristobal has enhanced his knowledge through his work with Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban. Saban is one of the best in the business and has been a positive influence on Cristobal. Butch has won a championship with UM already and said that leaving Miami was a tragic mistake.
Although firing Golden and his staff would be expensive, the new Adidas deal is kicking in good money to restructure the program. Also, by winning again, the program will return to the winning status that it should be in.
Max Sanchez is a senior majoring in sports administration.
Read the counterargument by Courtney Fiorni here.


Blowout Sale! Up to 64% off on Bathroom Sink Faucets at Walk In Tub Showers. Top brands include ROOwarMer, VIGO, DELTA FAUCET, LightInTheBox, Moen, Pfister, Kingston Brass, JOMOO, GUMA, Beelee, MRT SUPPLY, Derengge, Inchant, Parlos, & Design House. Hurry! Limited time offers. Offers valid only while supplies last.


text:
#include "Thor/Framework/ThException.h"

namespace Thor
{
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
//
//					TheContainerException
//
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
class TheContainerException:public ThException
{
public:
	TheContainerException(const ThString& name);
};
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Buying rug pads can be quite confusing for a lot of people because of the plethora of options there are in the market. On the one hand there are cheap qualities that claim extensive durability, while on the other hand, there are those that claim to be a bit expensive but offer great comfort. Which one makes the best option for you is what this article will help you with.
• Know Your Priorities – buying a certain rug pad is as much a personal choice as it is determined by any other factor. You may want a plush treatment to your new oriental rug, or you might want just the most basic rug pad for your kitchen rug. Thus, it depends on your priorities as to the purpose you need to for.
• Keep the Budget in Mind – there are expensive as well as cheap varieties in the market. Many will lure you into buying them because of their utility, durability, etc. but will be dear. Know how much your budget allows you to spend on a rug pad and stick you the side that sells those in your budget or cheaper variants of it. You do not want to end up spending more.
• Are you socially responsible? – this is another question you may want to ask yourself before opting for rug pads for hardwood floors or any other type. If you are the conscientious type and believe on buying environmentally friendly products, this is another thing you need to ensure when buying a rug pad. There are many green options available that have been certified by some of the most reliable organizations. Make sure you read the label properly though.
• Where is the rug placed? – while this may sound irrelevant, it isn't. The place where the rug is determines the kind of rug pad you may be looking for. If it is in the bedroom, you may want to go for a thick padding that ensures enough cushioning for the rug to be used comfortably as a sitting area. If it's in the kid's room, you would want it to be non-toxic and made of natural fibers. Moreover, it also needs to be thick especially if your baby crawls or if your toddler loves to play with his/her toys. At the same time if the rug is in your corridor or hallway, you might want a thin rug pad to avoid accidents involving people falling because of the sudden protrusion.
• Climatic Factor – your rug pad can also be a great way to keep your indoors cool or warm according to the climate of your area. If you live in a warmer region, getting a thin rug pad would be ideal as it will insulate the least amount of heat. However, if you live in a colder region, getting a thick rug pad would be ideal as it will help the rug insulate more heat and keep your rooms warm.
• The Size of the Rug Pad – you might think that you need to buy a rug pad that has the exact dimensions of your rug but it is untrue. Always buy a rug pad that is an inch smaller on all sides. This enables the rug itself to drop to the floor and keep people from falling over or tripping. The use of this tactic will also ensure that the rug doesn't fray, increasing its life.
• The Type of Floor – the thickness of the rug pad depends on the type of floor you have the rug on as well. If you have a hard floor, for instance that of wood or concrete, you will require a thicker rug pad. This will ensure that the real purpose of the rug is fulfilled: a comfortable walk on the rug that is warm and easy. Thus know the kind of floor you have and buy rug pads for hardwood floors accordingly.
• Perfect Candidates for Hardwood Floors – the major issue as far as hardwood floors are concerned is that they are prone to get scratched easily. Any substance like rubber latex will easily leave ugly lines on the floor. Thus, make sure the material of the rug pad does not cause it. Jute is an excellent solution in this case. There are other options available to choose from in the market as well.
• Is the rug placed over a carpeted floor? – you might wonder why you need rug padding when there carpet base provide with a reasonable friction and there is no danger of slipping. The use of a rug pad on a carpeted flooring is even more important because the rug may fold and the dye of the rug may seep into the carpet leaving an ugly stain, especially if the carpet is a shade lighter than that of the rug. To avoid that get an adhesive that is coated by polyester fabric. This will ensure no mix of dyes and keep your carpet as good as new.
• Is your floor slippery? – while concrete provides friction, floors such as hardwood, tiles, etc. can prove to be very slippery. Thus, when buying a rug pad, make sure it has anti-slip qualities. While you want to add to the aesthetics of your room, you don't want your rug to end up as a hazard.
You might not realize how complicated buying a rug pad is. But when you are invest in a household item, however small it is, thinking through and weighing the pros and cons always helps you make the best decisions. These are just some of the tips that will help you do the same. Happy rug pad shopping!
Choosing a good rug pad can make a huge difference to the way a rug holds up in the home. It will be less susceptible to damage and tearing. People know little about rug padding since not a lot of people use it. They do not know how long it lasts or what damages it. The different materials used to make a rug pad affect how long the pad will perform before it withers and breaks. Some last longer than others when made from the right materials while others simply wither away. To get familiar with rug pads and how long they last, knowledge of the materials that are used to make them is important.
The most popular materials used to make rug pads are often the ones that last the longest. The following materials are used to make the most rug pads and their durability is dependent on these materials.
–Rubber padding is of two kinds. One is made from plant oils and is organic. This is a healthy form of rubber and it gives a good grip on the floor as well as the rug. It had been around for a shorter amount of time if compared to the other conventional rubber. Conventional rubber is less used these days and not as popular as the other materials. However, they are better at handling wear and tear and have a capacity to last for ten to twenty years if used properly.
–This is the most popular in terms of rug pads. Rebond is a collection of foams that have been bonded together after being recycled. Heat-pressed together, they contain no form of glue or dangerous chemicals. It is strong in terms of durability and can handle the weight and pressure well. It can last for ten years once placed under the rug. However, the amount of traffic passing over the rug itself and the furniture placed on it will affect its lifespan.
– The most preferred and used rug padding is made from Urethane. It provides a thick, durable layer beneath the rug. The hold on this padding is better than rubber and rebond pads because it is sprayed with adhesives. However, this kind of extra grip with the use of adhesives comes with a price.The rug pad has been chemically treated to make it last longer, between fifteen to twenty years. People do prefer a longer life of the product, but it is a dangerous pad to have in your homeas the chemicals are injurious to health.
–Felt is a simple rug pad and is usually placed beneath delicate carpets because it is so fine. Unlike the ones used on cement floors, this is a lighter pad that gives a soft protection to handmade carpets and rugs. Felt pads last relatively shorter than others, starting to wear out by the end of five years. High performance in terms of rug pads, is desired by everyone who buys them. The padding is expected to work well and keep the floors and rugs safe. Eventually they do wear out but with regular care and washing they can last much longer.
Rug pads offers homeowners many benefits. A rug pad can be placed on the underside of a carpet or rug, right above the floor. This is beneficial for both carpet and floor. The rug pad prevents your carpet from slipping around the room and keeps it locked in its position so it does not lose its texture and consistency over time. It also prevents carpet fibres from fraying with time, thereby enhancing carpet lifespan.
The rug pad acts as a buffer, keeping your carpet from wearing against the floor. Many floors like hardwood, ceramic, marble and tile are expensive and delicate, which means they sustain damage from the slightest stain or liquid spillage. The rug pad soaks up any moisture or liquid before it can deface your flooring. As the rug pad gives so many advantages to your home, it is important to give a lot of thought into buying one for your carpet.
It is important to buy superior rug pads. You will come across many brands of rug pads in the market, but a lot of these are cheap and third rate, wearing away easily and needing regular cleaning and repair. Find a good and reliable brand, even if it may be more expensive than alternative rug pads. You will be better off buying a costly rug pad that will give you reliable service and last a long time.
The rug pad you choose must work well with your floor type. Some padding may not be compatible with finishings like hardwood, ceramic or acrylic. For instance, PVC rug pads do not work with some hardwood finishes, like luxury vinyl or lacquer. Make sure to buy one that is suitable for your flooring, otherwise it may end up damaging the floor.
Go for organic and eco-friendly rug pads instead of synthetic padding. Artificial rug pads are often treated with factory chemicals and additives that could wear out the carpet fabric and deface your floor. Biodegradable rug pads do not inflict any damage on either your floor or carpet.
Rug pads will vary with the type of function they will be performing in your home. If you are placing the rug pad in a high traffic area or a room with heavy furniture, buy a thicker rug pad for extra protection and enhanced comfort. Thick rug pads like felt or rubber are ideal if you have a large family with small kids. If your room is not regularly used or has light furniture, a thinner rug pad may be sufficient for your needs.
The type of rug pad you buy will vary with the size of your carpet. Buy felt rug pads for large area rugs. These are thick, sturdy and dense, and provide a good buffer between your floor and carpet. For small rugs and carpets, go for a natural rubber rug pad as it offers a firm, non-slip grip and goes well with all floor types.
If you live in a humid area, natural rubber rug pads are your best option. These rug pads do not to the floor or carpet, unlike PVC rug pads. Natural rubber works well in humid climates and does not retain damp, unlike vinyl or PVC padding that could cause discoloration on your flooring. The best rug pad is one that is compatible with both your carpet and floor, and keeps them from damage and deterioration. Buy a rug pad that will best suit your individual home requirements.
Most people tend to think of rug pads as unnecessary purchases. When they buy a rug they bypass the pad completely. They often put the rug in place without knowing of how much damage they can cause without the pad. Without the rug pad, the rug tends to slip and slide. Often it wrinkles and wears down faster than it would if a rug pad is placed beneath it and ends up with cracks in the beautiful patterns in it. Since Persian rugs are delicate, more intricately made than others and are often open to damage, they tend to wear down quickly. Since they are handmade, moving them around too much will loosen the knots at the end, under the rug. This knot keeps the entire rug whole. Once it is opened, the whole rug will slacken. Although they are hidden from view beneath the rugs, rug pads are extremely important. They hold the rug in place. This keeps the delicately made rug from sliding around; often bunching up while someone walks over them in the absence of a rug pad. Once that happens, it weakens the fibres and creates splits on the rug.
Durahold rug pads make the carpet surface comfortable to walk on as well since they provide good padding. So, when buying one, it is essential to know what one is looking for. Compare – If the perfect rug pad is desired, the materials used to make them should be noted. What materials are best for your floor or carpet is a knowledge every buyer should have. Durahold rug pads also come in a variety made from polyurethane foam. This is commonly known as Rebond because it is manufactured from pieces of foam, recycled and bonded together. These give the carpet a good grip and keep it from sliding off and slipping. The foam keeps the carpet from wrinkling and cushions it so that the pressure is taken by the pad rather than the carpet itself. This is ideal for the Persian rug.
Choose – If one does not have a certain thickness in mind, then finding out the correct thickness for a Persian rug is a priority. Commercially, softer and thinner rug pads work best for a Persian carpet. It has to be cut to fit beneath it so the typical size would have to be a 1 inch thickness. This protects the rug and does not raise it too high to create a tripping hazard.
–Pick the pad that is perfect for a home. Keep in mind who lives in the home and what dangers they provide to the floor and carpet. If the home has pets, a moisture guard rug pad will be best in case they wet the carpet. If there are toddlers that tend to stain the carpet and pad, an easy wash and waterproof pad is ideal. No matter what the need, there is always a rug pad that fits.
To put a rug pad in place, one has to know what to do. They are simple and easy tips that can be done by everyone without problems. Measuring the rug that needs the padding placed underneath is the first step. The rug pad has to be two inches shorter than the rug itself. This is to keep it from getting caught in the heel of a shoe and become a tripping hazard. The rug needs to be placed in the area chosen. Drawing a line around the edges makes sure there is no mistake when putting the rug pad in and line the edges with soft glue. The rug pad should rest on it till it has dried. Once done, the carpet is placed on top and settled for a perfect, safe Persian decoration for the home.
Buying a rug pad is easy. All a buyer has to do is go to the nearest outlet, choose the one they want and get it. If it is in stock, they can buy is right then and there. If it is not, then they have to order the size and shape they want and the company often has them custom made. Either way, the rug pad will be brought home safely wrapped and ready to use. There is nothing left for the user to do other than unpack it, find a place to put it down and set it beneath the carpet. It is an easy process, no help required once the user knows what to do and how to do it.
Installation and care for a rug pad is very easy. Normally, when a rug pad is bought, it is already rolled up and packed, already down like it should be. It is just a case of unrolling it and placing it where it is needed. If the rug pad is not already packed the way it has t be placed down, there are easy steps to know which side touches the rug and which sticks to the floor.
–All felt rug pads have a smooth and a fuzzy side. The fuzzier side helps it stick to the ground and the smoother side keeps the rug on top. The answer to this is simple enough. Placing the fuzzier side needs to be placed on the floor, then the rug has to be placed directly on top so it has a good hold. Other than a few inches cut off so the pad is not visible, the rug has to be in complete alignment with the pad. This might take a few tries but in the end it will settle the way the user wants.
Felt and rubber rug pads are different on both sides. To keep a firm grip on the rug, the felt side stays on top while the rubber side goes down to stick against the floor. It will leave no marks or imprints but it will keep the rug in place.
–Since foam is thicker than felt or rubber it does not matter what side is placed on top or stays on the floor. Rebond is an easy to use multipurpose material that holds well on both sides.
Durahold rug pads are easy to take care of. They require little maintenance and are generally a less problematic addition to the home. To take care of the rug pad all one needs is a little soap and water or a vacuum cleaner. If something is dropped on the rug, all the buyer has to do is blot it out. If it stains, then a mild detergent and a sponge is enough to clean the surface of the rug pad. It air dries so there is no real hassle. Once in a while it might need to be vacuumed. Just lifting the rug off and sweeping over the surface or running the vacuum cleaner is enough for that.
A rug pad does tend to wear like a rug. So rotation is important. To try and prevent it from damaging, the rug pad needs to be rotated, perhaps once a year. Two people can pick it up, switch it about and place it back on the floor where it was. Little harms a rug pad. It is a durable, user friendly invention that is easy to use and easy to install. All the user has to do is unroll and let the rug settle on it. It is quick and simple; making the homes safe in a few steps.


One of our keynote speakers was Brigid Schulte, author of "Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time." A seasoned journalist for the Washington Post, Schulte spoke with refreshing candor about an issue most everyone can relate to – not having enough time.
Schulte presented the issue in a heart wrenching way, however. For her, not having enough time meant more than exposing herself to physically toxic levels of stress. It meant more than struggling to meet an unreasonable and dated perception of the ideal worker – more on that later – for her, not having enough time meant missing out on once in a life time moments with her children.
She described one particular stressed out day – in a loop of stressed out days – where her children wanted her to join them in the yard jumping on their trampoline. She said something like, I'll be right there – she was working on her very long to do list – and when she looked up again, her children were gone, and it was dark. The moment was also gone, never to return again.
I've probably missed a lot of irreplaceable moments too. Why? Part of it's related that perception I mentioned earlier about the ideal worker.
Schulte drew a clear picture of this mythical beast, this workaholic with nothing to do but feed the company coffers via their sweat and creative equity. Guess what they look like. You'll never guess – this unicorn of dubious productivity is male without familial responsibilities.
I know; I was shocked too. I'm kidding. But it's ridiculous, right? This is not the only person of value in an organization. It can't be. There's not enough of them to make the business world go round.
But until we change that perception, until we advance beyond this dated need to appear busy and put in the hours versus producing a tangible outcome, of penalizing women for having children and logically needing to take time off to tend to them, of ignoring paid vacation days for fear of appearing not committed, of sacrificing flexibility, health and the resulting engagement, performance and creativity gains that go along with them to maintain the status quo, there will be no trampoline jumping in any of our futures.
Schulte introduced me to a Japanese word – Karoshi – which loosely translated means to kill yourself with work. I actually shivered when she described this cultural phenomenon. And I immediately thought – there's no way I'm going out like that. I like to work. But am I – are you – willing to sacrifice life, limb and happiness for it?


Guess these geographical answers that start with the letter M.
And they keep brainwashing those assassins.
Missed 2 - should have got Manchuria but never heard of Magyar.
Hungary is called the country of Magyars in Hungarian.
I'd quibble that Monsoons are seasonal changes, or storms caused by changes in the seasons, but they aren't in themselves seasons, any more than hurricanes are.
but the rainy season in these countries is also commonly referred to as "Monsoon Season."
Sure, but many animals have mating seasons, does that make mating a season?
^ yes. Yes, it does.
The mating season takes part generally in the monsoon season, and I season my wood at this time, which in Australia is in the Summer season and at this time I also season my food with spices I bought during the holiday season.
Just as the period from June to November is referred to as the "Hurricane Season" in the Caribbean.
Yes they do and I got stuck in one on my way to the airport.
They might have a monsoon season, but it is not called a monsoon season.
yes, it is called the "monsoon season".
24/24 4:03 left =) Only one that got me at first was Manchuria, but I typed that mistakenly for the Winnipeg clue instead of Manitoba (and then I typed Manitoba) so that worked out.
I don't see how Mormons are related to Geography?
Human geography. Look it up.
How wonderfully condescending of you.
Actually it is a pretty good point. The Magna Carta fits much more into History than geography as well. You can't argue that everything slightly related to humanity is human geography, mormons would't count for me, but that is an opinion, not fact.
Good lord! A time traveller from the 20th Century has visited us!
Quick, contact me, I'll tell you who wins the Superbowl and we'll make a fortune!
Hong Kong and Macau are part of a Special Administrative Region ( SAR) of China. It's one of those ambiguous parts of another country (like Greenland, Gibralter, the District of Columbia, Bermuda, etc.) with limited self-control, but definitely part of China.
The island of Macau was returned to China by Portugal in the 20th century. (I believe it was in 1999, but I could have the date wrong).
John Stewart spells it "Mess o' Potamia".
The Magna Carta is definitely not geography. Yes, I know about human geography and all, but this dates from 1215 and is not even about defining borders at that time.
While I would argue that there is more to human geography than defining borders; and that the Magna Carta made substantial impact on Barons and the way the country operated (though I am not a Medieval specialist in History). It doesn't feel like it belongs in a geography quiz.
Mardi Gras is known in a whole country and in a whole province (France and Quebec), yet the hint is mentionning just a city ... That's what I call virtual difficulty.
I was about to agree with you, but I read up on it and it turns out New Orleans is much more famous for its Mardi Gras celebrations than other areas and cities. Turns out France and Quebec aren't the only other places, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Senegal ( to name a few) all celebrate Mardi Gras, but the Louisiana city is most well known.
Many places (Brazil, the Caribbean islands, as well as those previously mentioned) celebrate Carnival/Carnivale. Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) was traditionally the last day of the Carnival when the people ate and drank to their hearts' content for the following day (Ash Wednesday) was the beginning of Lent. During Lent the people were expected to fast and forego culinary pleasures until the Easter Feast.
3.27, took a while to get Manchuria. Glad to see Maori on it, given I have those family links!
How are Mormons considered "geography"?
We don't call it Manchuria anymore. It reminds us of the colonial puppet state era by the Japanese empire. We just call it the Northeast. And the majority there is Han Chinese instead of Manchu people. Being half Manchu I never know a single word of the nearly-extinct Manchu language, which still prospered 120 years ago.
Magna Charta should be accepted.


This means I need to go into WPML settings and set it so WPML will scan my theme and add the ability to translate the strings inside the theme. 4. I click on �Translate the theme and plugins using WPML�s String Translation�.... Install and activate the core WPML plugins (WPML Multilingual CMS, WPML String Translation, WPML Translation Management), and then other WPML plugins that may depend on them. Set up WPML from WPML->Languages .
WPML is the most popular plugin for multi language support, Porto is fully compatible with WPML. Below you will find documentation their team created for using WPML plugin with Porto. If you�ve purchased WPML and have any questions or issues, please check the links below.
6/03/2014�� The WPML support team told me that the �WPML String Translation� add-on should probably help me, but they also told me to ask the ENFOLD support team for confirmation. Is there anyone who can help me on that or just confirm ?
However, the most important thing for any multilingual plugin is the translations, and WPML sits in both the auto-translate and self-translate categories. If you want to auto-translate, WPML syncs with ICanLocalize and Cloudwords services.