§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were received at Stranraer port during each of the past five years. [73795]
§ Beverley HughesThe figures are not available for all of the period in question.
The number of new asylum applications lodged at Stranraer is as follows:
1 January—31 December 2000 10 1 January—31 December 2001 36 1 January—12 October 2002 127 These figures may be subject to revision.
§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities for processing asylum applications are available at Stranraer port. [73794]
§ Beverley HughesPassenger traffic at Stranraer is within the Common Travel Area between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Therefore, it is not designated as a Port of Entry within the provisions of the Immigration Acts. Immigration Service staff operate at Stranraer in support of Police controls operated by Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary, from whom suspected immigration offenders are referred. Any person who claims asylum during such enquiries is initially processed by the Immigration Service within police accommodation at Stranraer Police Station. Such98W persons may then be granted temporary release or transferred to Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre pending resolution of their asylum applications.