§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances it is permitted within EU laws or other ordnances for Belgium frontier authorities to date stamp the passports of United Kingdom passport holders on entry into Belgium. [24865]
§ Mr. David DavisDate-stamping of United Kingdom passports by Belgian immigration authorities would not necessarily be contrary to EC law provided that it could not be construed as an immigration control on a British citizen, and provided that it was not done in circumstances which amounted to discrimination on the ground of nationality. Nevertheless it appears that the few cases reported recently of such date-stamping were the result of administrative error and the Belgian authorities assure us they have taken steps to see that it does not happen again.
312Ware no powers to continue more senior judges in office beyond their statutory retirement date.