§ 2.38 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider the recruitment of additional staff, if the existing staff is inadequate, to enable immigration officers to travel on cross-Channel car ferries, and so help to relieve the congestion and delay that regularly occur at the ports during the touring season.]
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, in view of the continuing need of economy in the employment of staff, Her Majesty's Government do not feel justified in authorising the recruitment of additional immigration officers for the purpose of travelling on cross-Channel car ferries. Repeated tests have established that such an arrangement would not significantly affect the total time taken to complete the disembarkation of cars and passengers and their progress through the port controls.
LORD TEYNHAMMy Lords, arising out of the noble Lord's reply, surely he would consider that the provision of a few more officers is a small price to pay for the more efficient conduct of immigration formalities. Would he not agree that it would afford relief to the travelling public and provide an infinitely better impression to visitors arriving in this country? Would the Minister undertake to look at this matter again?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I do not think that on the grounds of efficiency there is a case for taking on additional staff for this purpose, because, as I have just said, tests have proved that that is not achieved. We realise that the majority of the people using these ferries prefer the immigration examination to take place on board, but I think that all I can say to the noble Lord is that we should be willing to look at the matter again to see if it is possible to arrange something, should there be such a demand, within the limits of the present staff.
THE MARQUESS OF WILLINGDONMy Lords, may I assure the noble Lord that there is such demand, and could he not issue instructions for quicker landing at the port of arrival? At present the delay is quite intolerable.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I am given to understand that they do the best they can, and, as I have said, and will now say again, a good many tests have been taken and there was not found to be any substantial difference under those arrangements. In the normal way the immigration formalities are completed by the time the cars are off the ship.
VISCOUNT STONEHAVENMy Lords, would the noble Lord agree that the abolition of the necessity for passports would solve the labour difficulty?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, if the noble Lord would care to put down a Question on that matter I should be delighted to answer it.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, is this not a typical example of the kind of economy which Her Majesty's Government are exercising, while they have been having very much larger overall Budgets over the last four or five years? And is this not an economy which actually detracts from the needed expansion of this cat ferry service?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I do not think this is the moment for me to indulge in a discussion of economic affairs with the noble Viscount, but I have already promised that this matter can be looked into again to see if this service can be provided economically.
LORD TEYNHAMMy Lords, while again thanking the noble Lord the Minister for his reply, may I ask whether he would agree to receive further information, which I will willingly send to him, about delays which occur?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I should certainly be pleased to pass such information on to my right honourable friend.