§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training or guidance is currently received by airline liaison officers; and how this is provided. [37724]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAirline liaison officers are selected from within an Immigration Service management grade (Chief Immigration Officer) on the basis of experience and suitability against well defined criteria. After selection and before posting, airline liaison officers attend a training course devised and run by the Immigration Service Carriers Liaison Unit, the office responsible for managing the airline liaison officer network. They are also provided with a manual which contains operational guidance and instructions. Airline liaison officers are instructed to contact the Carriers Liaison Unit for advice and guidance whenever necessary.
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§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many airline liaison officers are currently in post overseas; and in which countries they serve. [37722]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Home Office currently has five airline liaison officers based overseas at the British High Commissions in Ghana (Accra), Kenya (Nairobi), India (New Delhi), Sri Lanka (Colombo) and Bangladesh (Dhaka).
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual cost is of maintaining airline liaison officers overseas; and what assessment he has made of this expenditure in terms of value for money. [37723]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe budget, including the initial costs of providing the necessary support services for the network of five airline liaison officers, is £925,000 in the first year of operation and £575,000 annually thereafter. The estimated annual saving to the United Kingdom after the first full year of operation is just under £19 million.