The Government is set to investigate claims that Border Agency (UKBA) officials told a potential whistleblower they were "indifferent" to concerns on illegal immigrants. Tory former minister Christopher Chope told MPs of a constituent who had informed the UKBA of some illegal workers but then had his appointment cancelled. Commons Leader Harriet Harman said people should be encouraged to give information to the authorities and she would ensure Home Office ministers looked into the case. During Commons exchanges on upcoming business, Mr Chope (Christchurch) called for a debate on the "inadequacies" of the UKBA. "Last week one of my constituents complained to the Border Agency and it was effectively a whistleblowing job on some illegal immigrants, people who had overstayed and were working illegally," he said. "He had an appointment with the UKBA which was then cancelled and the UKBA said they were indifferent to his concerns. Surely this is thoroughly unsatisfactory - people should be encouraged to blow the whistle on illegal immigrants rather than not." Ms Harman replied: "I think people should be encouraged to give information if they think there's illegal activity going on ... Nobody wants information which is given by people in good faith to not be acted on." Meanwhile, the effort to track all passenger movements in and out of the UK by 2014 in the fight against terrorists and known criminals has been stepped up, the Government said. Home Secretary Alan Johnson unveiled the National Border Targeting Centre (NBTC) in Manchester, where watch list checks on people entering and leaving the country will be carried out. UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers will work alongside the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the police to share intelligence and issue alerts where a suspect is identified by electronic border checks. Electronic checks on passenger data will be conducted even before a person sets foot on a plane. | 
