MPs right to say border agency can not cope with fewer staff(Press Release)

Commenting on concerns raised by a committee of MPs over the UK Border Agency's ability to cope with demand around the Olympics, PCS says the agency has been "hamstrung by job cuts".

The culture media and sport committee has written to culture secretary Jeremy Hunt to say passport controls are likely to be understaffed and unable to cope by an increase in passengers for the Olympics and Paralympics this summer.

The union has consistently warned about job cuts in UKBA and plans to cut thousands more staff from the agency and the Home Office in the coming years.

The MPs' letter echoes concerns raised by airline operators before the Easter break.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "It is clear that more and more people are now realising that UKBA has been hamstrung by job cuts and simply can not function with so few staff.

"Senior UKBA managers and ministers must accept that to run an efficient and effective service they need to reverse these cuts immediately."