§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many French nationals holding French passports have been arrested by British police stationed at the French terminus of the Channel Tunnel Shuttle within the bi-national zone and returned to the United Kingdom, without extradition procedures, for questioning or charging. [8884]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienSince the opening of the Channel Tunnel system, Kent police advise that they have not arrested in Coquelles and escorted through the Tunnel to Cheriton any French national.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what review he has conducted, following the arrest by French police of Henry Tuson in June, of the procedures under the agreements permitting the French police to operate within the Channel Tunnel terminus at Cheriton and permitting British police to operate within the Channel Tunnel terminus at Sangatte; and what changes in procedures he is proposing. [8883]
§ Mr. O'BrienWe are not reviewing, nor do we propose to seek, changes to the bi-national Treaty and protocol arrangements by which French and United Kingdom police officers exercise their national police powers within the Channel Tunnel system. These arrangements are contained in the Treaty of Canterbury in100W force since 1987 and the Sangatte protocol in force since 1993. Similar arrangements apply to United Kingdom frontier controls in Coquelles.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many United Kingdom nationals holding United Kingdom passports have been arrested by French police stationed at the English terminus of the Channel Tunnel Shuttle within the bi-national zone and returned to France, without extradition procedures, for questioning or charging. [8885]
§ Mr. O'BrienIn the time available, we have not been able to obtain a detailed response from the French authorities. We have written to them and will forward their reply.