HL Deb 16 February 1981 vol 417 cc480-1

2.44 p.m.

Lord Bethell

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have decided to do away with the "EEC Nationals" immigration control points at Heathrow Airport and Dover Docks and whether they will review this decision.

Lord Sandys

My Lords, no such decision has been made. Separate control points for European Community nationals continue to function at Heathrow Airport and at Dover. There is no proposal to abolish them.

Lord Bethell

My Lords, is my noble friend not aware that at certain terminals at Heathrow and at Dover Docks only eight of our fellow Community Members have an entry point assigned to them and that Greeks have to go through the "all other countries" entry point? Is he aware of the furore that has been caused in the Greek press and among Greek public opinion at the idea of their citizens being so obviously separated from others, and does he not appreciate the damage that is being done to the understanding of the European Community in this country by the removal of the "EEC Nationals" designation at various entry points? Can no way out be found of this most unsatisfactory situation?

Lord Sandys

My Lords, I know that my noble friend is fully aware of the background of this situation, which is rather more complicated than may be apparent from the Question on the Order Paper. Under the transitional arrangements for the entry of Greece to the European Community, Greeks will not benefit from the free movement of labour provisions in the Treaty until seven years after the date of their country's accession, which was of course 1st January 1981. Thus the examination of Greek immigration control can be comparatively lengthy. At ports where they arrive in large numbers it would hinder the flow of other European Community passengers if they were examined in the same channel. For this reason it was decided that Greeks should not use the European Community channel at terminals 1 and 2 at Heathrow, to which my noble friend referred, or at Dover West or Dover Hoverport. Sometimes the Greeks have joined the European Community channel at these ports; the result has been congestion and delay which has given rise to the complaint mentioned by my noble friend.

Lord Strabolgi

My Lords, will the Government do something to try to speed up the immigration points and the entry points; and are they aware that it takes much longer to gain entry at Heathrow than, say, at Paris, where one can often go through the immigration point within a few minutes of disembarking, whereas in London it takes anything from half an hour to an hour?

Lord Sandys

Yes, my Lords, but it arises in the difference between our immigration policy in this country and those of our Continental partners. A land frontier occurs in the case of almost all our partners whereas it does not, of course, in this country, and we follow a different policy. So far as improvement is concerned, the British Airports Authority is establishing the closest relationship with the Home Office immigration services.

Lord Strabolgi

Yes, my Lords, but why do holders of British passports have to be subjected to long delay when arriving in their own country?

Lord Sandys

My Lords, this matter is under review. The House will be aware from my previous statement where the difficulties arise.