§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of the European Community or European Economic Area, or members of their families, were(a) questioned, (b) searched and (c) detained in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999; and how the powers in these respects are exercised and at what location, in respect of those travelling by rail through the channel tunnel. [125385]
§ Mrs. RocheThe information requested is not available. European Economic Area (EEA) nationals are normally admitted to the United Kingdom on production of a valid passport or identity card as evidence of nationality and identity, in accordance with Article 3(1) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Order 1994 ("the EEA Order") and subject of Article 15(1) of the EEA Order. Under Article 3(3) of the EEA Order, an accompanying family member of an EEA national who is not himself an EEA national will normally be admitted to the United Kingdom, although he may, in addition, be required to hold an EEA family permit issued abroad.
Under Article 15(1) of the EEA Order, immigration officers on arrival may refuse to admit a person if his exclusion is justified on grounds of public policy, public security or public health. This applies when the person is travelling by rail through the channel tunnel or by any other means of transport.
Powers for immigration officers to question passengers arriving in the United Kingdom, whether they are citizens of the European Union or European Economic Area, or their accompanying (third country) relatives, are contained 627W in paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. Schedule 2 applies to the examination of (EEA) nationals in accordance with Article 20(2)(e) of the EEA Order. Under paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, a person who is examined under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 may be searched, and his belongings examined, and that person may be detained under paragraph 16 of Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971.
These powers are normally exercised where the passenger first encounters the immigration officer or, in the case of a person examined on board a train, immediately on his arrival in the United Kingdom.