Oral answer to question provided on Monday, 10 October 2005 in the House of Commons, by Tony McNulty (Labour), Home Office.

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Border security

Answer

The hon. Gentleman should, if he is serious, ask why the 350 ports up and down the country, including regularised and unregularised airfields, are not staffed—[Interruption.] I should be very keen to hear the shadow Chancellor's comments on the Conservatives' manifesto commitments. It is clear that we must improve our borders, and we are using technology to do so. Some of that is being implemented already. Hon. Members will be aware that embarkation controls were first lifted in 1994, and quite rightly. We need to adopt an intelligence-led approach, and that is what we are doing. In answer to the hon. Gentleman's question, some ports are staffed, and some utilise electronics. Over the course of time, we shall get to a stage where we have the secure borders that we deserve.