§ Sir Irvine PatnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on passenger handling arrangements at(a) Heathrow and (b) other United Kingdom airports. [10323]
§ Mr. KirkhopeParagraph 27(1)(a) of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 requires that carriers disembark passengers from ships and aircraft in accordance with arrangements approved by the immigration service. These arrangements invariably include a requirement that passengers who are not European Union—European Economic Area nationals be presented in an orderly manner to the immigration officer for interview. This requirement is met in a variety of ways at different locations, reflecting the different traffic patterns and accommodation configurations which exist. At Heathrow airport, carriers have engaged a private security firm to carry out this function on their behalf.