§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigation he has made of the case when on the night of 3rd January persons, many elderly and some over 80 years, mostly from the Dorset area, arriving at Hurn airport from a holiday in the tropics on an aircraft four hours late were, at 1 a.m., detained in a queue in a draughty unheated hall with open doors for some 40 minutes with a temperature of minus 2°C, awaiting a passport control officer; what was the interval of time which elapsed between the time of the arrival of the first passenger and the examination of his passport; what was the cause of this delay; if he accepts responsibility for any ill health that may follow; if he will direct his officers in the future to avoid such delays; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Merlyn, Rees:No time was spent awaiting the arrival of, the immigration officer. He was at his desk when the first passenger entered the hall at 23.35 911W hours and examination of passports began immediately. Clearance of the 94 passengers on board, who included a number of non-patrials, was completed in 29 minutes at 00.04 hours.
The small amount of traffic at Hurn airport does not justify the provision of more than one immigration officer on duty at a time.
I am sorry if the passengers had to wait in uncomfortable conditions but this is a matter for the airport authority.