Avoiding asylum amnesties is just one recommendation

The Home Affairs Select Committee's report on the asylum system also expressed concern over the quality of decisions on asylum applications.

The all-party group insists Britain is "not a soft touch" but concludes there are weaknesses in the current system.

It said more needs to be done to ensure that failed asylum seekers leave.

Attractive UK?

The committee first called for a unified frontier force two years ago.

It said police, Customs and Excise and the Immigration Service should be brought together to tighten the UK's borders.

Although ministers are examining the possibility, the home secretary has said there are "strong differences" of opinion between the various agencies involved.

The committee said there had been "undue delay" in resolving the disagreements and it was now "time to act".

Why MPs want a frontier force

The report also called for greater investment in the system for processing asylum applications.

It said there were "grounds for concern" about the standard of decision-making by immigration staff, with a "disturbing" rise in successful appeals.

It said there had been "significant improvements" in the removal of failed applicants.

But it argued the rate of removal remained "unacceptably low" given the numbers who were eligible. About 50% of applications come from "economic migrants", the MPs say.

And they suggest a perception there had been low removal levels, lengthy appeals proceedings and the absences of "systematic identity checks", as well as the "opportunity to work legally or illegally", may have played a part in making the UK "a relatively more attractive destination than some others in Europe".

The MPs also warn against amnesties for asylum seekers.

Tough action

Committee chairman John Denham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was room for improvement.

"Too many initial decisions are wrong and that leads to lengthy delays with appeals. They still need to step up the removal system.

"We need to tackle the problem of illegal working by giving much more attention to the people who employ illegal workers."

The MPs also call for an independent review of the policy of refusing asylum to people who fail to claim it promptly on arriving in the UK.

Home Office minister Beverley Hughes said: "I am the first to recognise that we must continue to work to ensure we have a robust system that is resistant to abuse, while providing protection for genuine refugees."

She added: "I will shortly be announcing new measures to tighten up the law regulating the documentation employers must check to ensure they are not employing someone illegally."

The Refugee Council welcomed the report. Maeve Sherlock, its chief executive, said: "Most people want a system that helps refugees in fear of their lives and deals effectively with those who have been fairly rejected.

"Doing this will lead to fewer appeals, speedier results, lower costs and greater public confidence in the system."

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, said the report failed to give an accurate picture of what was happening in Britain.