VISITORS applying for visas to travel to the UK from countries with a record of immigration offending may have to pass biometric tests before being allowed in.

A pilot scheme in which fingerprints, iris or facial recognition data is contained in a micriochip on visas for visitors from Sri Lanka is to be extended to countries from which there are large numbers of immigration offenders.

The move is likely to include countries such as Jamaica and Zimbabwe, where the Government has imposed a visa regime because of widespread abuse of UK immigration and asylum laws.

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, said the plans to make more people applying for visas supply a biometric record of their fingerprints or iris would be a more secure way of confirming a person’s identity, especially if he or she had destroyed travel documents. He said: “I am also determined we take advantage of new technology to tighten up visa applications. Biometrics can play a big part in tackling illegal immigration and abuse of our asylum system and by embracing it we can reduce the pull factor to the UK.”

The Home Office was unable to provide any detail of when the pilot scheme operating for the past two months in Sri Lanka would be extended, to which countries it would apply and the costs of providing the equipment at British missions overseas.

Mr Blunkett disclosed his latest proposal on the eve of publication today of asylum figures disclosing how far the Home Office has succeeded in meeting Tony Blair’s pledge to curb asylum numbers.

The Prime Minister said in February that he wanted to halve the 2001 figure of 92,000 asylum applicants and dependents by September. Whether the target has been met will be known at the end of November. Mr Blunkett said that preventing people travelling to the UK illegally was a key part of the Government’s strategy to reduce the number of unfounded asylum applications.

He said today’s figures would show that the Government was “on track” to halve the record 8,900 asylum applications made in October 2002. The figures are expected to show that asylum applications ran at between 4,500 and 5,000 a month between April and June.

Mr Blunkett reiterated his plan to bring in legislation to deal with applicants who destroyed their travel documents and to streamline the asylum appeals process. The Home Office is working on a proposal that officials will be able to make an “adverse inference” when making a decision on an asylum applicant who has destroyed travel documents.

The plans to use biometric technology for visa applicants came as Mr Blunkett sought in the Court of Appeal to uphold his controversial policy of depriving asylum-seekers of food and shelter unless they claim refugee status immediately on arrival.

In July Mr Justice Maurice Kay ruled that the failure to offer state help to three asylum- seekers was a breach of their right not to be subject to “inhuman and degrading treatment”.

Mr Blunkett originally challenged the ruling in the case of “T”, a Malaysian who arrived at Heathrow in March and spent the first four days at the terminal after unsuccesffuly trying to claim asylum at the Canadian Embassy.

James Eadie, counsel for the Home Secretary, said that “T” had £200 in cash three weeks after arriving in the UK and had initially looked after himself. He said that the asylum- seeker had survived without great difficulty, hardship or adverse effects and was in good health.

He said that the High Court had erred in finding that the failure to provide state support was in breach of Article 3.

Mr Eadie said that “T” appeared to be in good health and had been resourceful as he had gone to churches to see if they could help, travelled on public transport and instructed lawyers about his case.

“He is aware of ‘soup kitchens’, so is aware that food is available even if his money does run out. That fact that he would ‘feel ashamed’ to go to one is not a good reason for claiming that he would go hungry.”

The Court of Appeal will give its judgment next month.

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