Written question asked by Patrick Mercer (Conservative) on Tuesday, 21 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 October 2003. It was answered by John Healey (Labour) on Tuesday, 28 October 2003 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to introduce container and goods vehicles scanning to detect illegal entry of (a) persons and (b) goods at ports of entry. - Includes figures.

Answer: Patrick Mercer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce container and goods vehicles scanning to detect illegal entry of (a) persons and (b) goods at ports of entry. [134117] John Healey: Mobile freight scanners were introduced by HM Customs and Excise in a phased roll- out between November 2000 and April 2003 for the detection of smuggled goods. There are currently 13 Customs scanners deployed at ports around the country. The UK Immigration Service (UKIS) currently operates a Gamma Scanner at the port of Dover for the detection of clandestine entrants. The scanner is deployed jointly with Customs and is capable of finding clandestine entrants and goods. A second gamma scanner, owned by UKIS, was loaned to the Belgian Federal Maritime Police in August 2003. It is operated jointly by the Belgian Federal Police and the UK Immigration Service at Zeebrugge and Ostende, and on the approach routes to both ports.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 134117; 412 c204-5W;412 c212-3W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Customs Immigration controls Undocumented migrants Ports Security Smuggling
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk