HC Deb 29 March 1999 vol 328 cc551-2W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to the French Government about the arrival in the UK of asylum seekers on Eurostar. [78704]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

My right hon. Friend is in close contact with his French counterpart, M Chevènement, about this matter. At their last meeting in Paris on 11 March, they discussed a range of options to deal with the problem, including imposing charges under the carriers' liability arrangements.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals have claimed asylum at(a) Waterloo Station and (b) elsewhere after arriving in the UK on a Eurostar service since 1 January. [78705]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

535 asylum applications, excluding dependants, were made at Waterloo in January and February 1999. I regret that information on how many asylum applications were made elsewhere after arriving in the United Kingdom on a Eurostar service is not available.