Written question asked by Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 28 April 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 May 2004. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Monday, 17 May 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to ensure that enforcement of immigration controls in (a) Cherbourg and (b) Dorset operates to the same standard seven days per week. - (Holding answer 5 May 2004).

Answer: Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that enforcement of immigration controls in (a) Cherbourg and (b) Dorset operates to the same standard seven days per week. [170600] Mr. Browne: [holding answer 5 May 2004]: The UK Immigration Service does not presently operate in Cherbourg. A pilot project was recently operated at Cherbourg whereby Immigration officers acted in an advisory capacity to the ferry operators to reduce the number of illegal entrants and inadmissible passengers at the point of departure. There are current proposals under way to deploy new detection technology to Cherbourg in partnership with the port authority. In Dorset the UK Immigration Service operates full immigration border controls at Poole seven day a week. UK Immigration Officers attend the control and check all arriving passengers and will continue to do so.

Secondary information