BURY North MP David Nuttall has called for a more "efficient" system of deporting illegal immigrants to save the Border Force cash.

The minister spoke during a heated Parliamentary debate on April 20 as Home Secretary Theresa May announced the Border Force's budget over the next 12 months will be £558.1 million — a 0.4-per-cent fall on the last 12 months.

In response, Mr Nuttall, a fellow Conservative of Mrs May, said: "Millions of pounds could be saved for the Border Force by having a more efficient removals system.

"What steps will Mrs May be taking in the light of the findings of the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration in his report issued last month?"

The report said that eight in ten suspicious passengers were waved through immigration checks at Manchester Airport.

In response, Mrs May said: "I am happy to tell Mr Nuttall that we continually look at how we can improve our ability to remove people from this country.

"The decisions put through…to deal with people's access to driving licences, bank accounts and rented property are all having an impact in improving our ability to identify illegal immigrants and remove them."

During the debate, Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham, of Labour, accused the Government of doing a u-turn by abandoning plans for "deeper cuts" to the budget.

Mr Burnham added: "How can she justify (these cuts) when the terror threat has been increasing all the time?"

He added that a whistleblower working at Immingham port in Lincolnshire had claimed school leavers, rather than experienced border officers, were being recruited to check passports.

Mrs May said: "In so much of what (Mr Burnham) said, he simply does not know what he is talking about."

She criticised Labour for creating the "dysfunctional" UK Border Agency "that we (Mrs May's Conservatives) had to abolish."

Another Conservative MP, Tim Loughton suggested Mr Burnham was guilty of "manufactured rage" and praised Border Force staff for doing an excellent job.

Mrs May added: "Our Border Force staff are working day in, day out to protect our border and they do an excellent job."