Written question asked by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Thursday, 5 March 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 March 1998. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 March 1998 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if all passengers leaving the UK are (a) liable to departure checks by the immigration service and (b) checked.

Answer: Mr. Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if all passengers leaving the UK are (a) liable to departure checks by the immigration service and (b) checked. [33871] Mr. Mike O'Brien: (a) All passengers are potentially liable to a form of departure check. Under the Immigration Act 1971, an immigration officer may seek to establish whether or not a person leaving the country is a British citizen and, if he is not, his identity. (b) In practice, about 40% of embarking passengers do not see an immigration officer. In 1994, embarkation checks were withdrawn from passengers departing from ferry ports and small airports for destinations within the European Union. Since then, the arrangements have been extended to all European Economic Area countries, that is: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 33871; 308 c132W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: EU countries Immigration controls Passengers Immigration Service Ports Directorate