Immigration and Asylum (Hansard, 21 October 2003)

§ Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors underlay decisions about the number of United Kingdom immigration officers employed in ports in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Europe; what the role is of UK officers in non-United Kingdom ports; and if he will make a statement. [131982]

§ Beverley Hughes
The information is as follows:
(a) Port staffing levels in the United Kingdom are determined by a number of factors;

Current and projected numbers of passenger arrivals;

For seaports the number of freight vehicles that will require searching

An assessment of the casework generated from the arriving passenger traffic

Projected numbers of asylum seekers that will require interview on arrival
(b) Officers are currently deployed to the following European ports to operate juxtaposed immigration controls:

Gare du Nord, Paris;

Gare du Midi, Lille;

Frethun, Calais;

Coquelles (Eurotunnel)
Officers will be deployed to Calais ferryport, Calais Hoverport, Dunkerque, and Boulogne following the conclusion of the Anglo-French treaty for the implementation of frontier controls at the seaports of both countries on the Channel and North Sea. This will take place towards the end of November 2003.
Save in respect of asylum claims and suspensive rights of appeal all these controls operate on the same basis as immigration controls operated at UK ports.
557W

§ Mr. Best
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about judicial involvement in the immigration and asylum system. [132235]

§ Beverley Hughes
The Government are committed to providing a firm, fast and fair asylum and immigration system. The reforms we introduced through the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum (NIA) Act 2002 have helped to deliver a significantly faster and more efficient system, which benefits both the taxpayer and those seeking legal entry or asylum in the United Kingdom. However, the Government believe that there are still too many examples of asylum applicants lodging groundless appeals to frustrate the asylum process and delay removal. Therefore, as my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary stated on 22 May 2003, we are drawing up further legislative measures to limit the scope for making unfounded appeals, including the possibility of moving to a single tier of appeal.