HC Deb 18 September 2003 vol 410 cc944-5W
Jeremy Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial and administrative support his Department provides to Operation Ulysses concerning control of migration to Europe. [130020]

Beverley Hughes

The Government have provided no direct financial support to Operation Ulysses. Contributions have instead been made in kind to both phases of the operation.

The UK adopts a multi-agency approach to combating illegal immigration. For the first phase, HM Customs and Excise committed a Cutter vessel; and for the second phase the Ministry of Defence provided a Nimrod aircraft for surveillance purposes. All the travel and subsistence costs incurred by the crews involved will be reimbursed through European Community funding. Additionally, the Home Office and the British embassy in Spain have provided administrative assistance.

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