§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what comparative studies he has conducted as to the time taken for(a) EU and (b) non-EU passengers to complete immigration formalities in the airports of EU capital cities. [185395]
§ Mr. BrowneNo comparative studies have been undertaken on the time taken for EU and non-EU passengers to complete immigration formalities in the airports of EU capital cities.
§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he sets service standards that the Immigration Service should seek to process foreign nationals(a) more slowly, (b) more quickly or (c) at the same speed as those arriving at Heathrow from other EU countries. [185396]
§ Mr. BrowneThe UK Immigration Service is committed to clearing bona fide passengers with minimal delay, and has set standards for passenger processing times, which comply with international standards previously adopted. These standards are embedded in the UK Immigration Service's annual business objectives, and are kept under regular review.
The standards are to clear:
- 90 per cent. of non-EEA passengers in 30 minutes and all such passengers within 45 minutes
- EEA passengers with minimal delay.