IMMIGRATION Minister Damian Green yesterday vowed to press ahead with less rigorous border checks despite the botched scheme that let thousands of illegal immigrants into Britain.

Mr Green and top civil servant Dame Helen Ghosh told the Home Affairs Select Committee letting low-risk children and European travellers pass would free officers to concentrate on higher-risk passengers.

He said: "I believe in risk-based targeting at the border. It needs to be the basis of our border approach."

Dame Helen added: "An evaluation of the pilot will suggest the approach that ministers have taken is that risk-based approaches are a good thing. Both the Prime Minister and Home Secretary have expressed their faith in risk-based approaches."

CONTROLS

The pair backed Home Secretary Theresa May's claim that Brodie Clark , of the UK Border Agency, had relaxed ­immigration controls without her permission.

Mr Green said Mr Clark never mentioned easing restrictions in any of nine meetings: "Very relevant information was withheld from ministers, and it appears to have been happening for a period of time."

But he admitted the Border Agency was "a mixed bag" that was not good enough in some areas. Measures to improve it were under way.

Asked whether Mr Clark had been a "rogue officer," Dame Helen said: "I believe that he had a long career in a number of high-profile, high-risk jobs and that he always led from the front."