HC Deb 09 May 1986 vol 97 cc257-8W
Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is Her Majesty's Government's normal commitment of funds and personnel in establishing immigration controls at an airport newly designated a port of entry; and how many airports have received this status in each of the past 15 years.

Mr. Waddington

The staffing of any port by the immigration service is related to the level of passenger traffic scheduled to arrive at that port. Airports are not normally designated as ports of entry until it has been demonstrated over a period that they meet the criteria for designation. These are that scheduled services carrying substantial numbers of passengers subject to immigration control arrive at the port. Airports were first designated as ports of entry under the Immigration (Ports of Entry) Order 1972 which came into effect on 1 January 1973. The airports designated under that order were:

  • Ashford,
  • Belfast,
  • Birmingham Bournemouth (Hurn)
  • Bristol
  • East Midlands
  • Edinburgh (Turnhouse)
  • London—Gatwick
  • Glamorgan
  • Glasgow
  • London—Heathrow
  • Liverpool
  • Luton
  • Lydd
  • Manchester
  • Manston
  • Newcastle
  • Prestwick
  • Southampton
  • 258
  • Southend
  • London—Stansted
  • Tees-side

The Immigration (Ports of Entry) Amendment Order 1975 deleted Ashford and Manston from the list and added Aberdeen and Norwich.

The Immigration (Ports of Entry) Amendment Order 1979 registered a change of name from Glamorgan to Cardiff (Wales).