Stranraer and Cairnryan (Hansard, 13 June 2003)

§ Mr. Peter Duncan
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions staff154W from Glasgow Immigration Office have attended Stranraer and Cairnryan ports to process asylum applications made there. [115827]

§ Beverley Hughes
Immigration staff from Glasgow have not attended Stranraer or Cairnryan ports solely to process asylum seekers. At those times since January 2001, when Immigration Officers have been in attendance, they have operated in support of Police controls operated by Dumfries and 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.1 January 2000–31 December 2000 Immigration Officers attended the Port of Stranraer on 56 occasions during this period (two Officers each time). 1 January 2001–31 December 2001 Immigration Officers attended the Port of Stranraer on 131 occasions during this period (two Officers each time). 1 January 2002–31 December 2002 Immigration Officers attended the Port of Stranraer on 215 occasions during this period (two Officers each time). 2003 Immigration Officers have not attended the Port of Stranraer during this period.

§ Mr. Peter Duncan
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department last discussed immigration officer resources available at Stranraer and Cairnryan ports with staff from(a) the Scottish Executive and (b) Dumfries and Galloway police. [115830]

§ Beverley Hughes
As Immigration matters are a reserved issue, there is currently no official channel for discussion of Immigration Service resource allocation with the Scottish Executive. Regular contact between the Immigration Service and Dumfries and Galloway Police is maintained through representation on the Stranraer Ports Forum.

§ Mr. Peter Duncan
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reallocate resources to create a permanent immigration office in Wigtownshire to cover Stranraer and Cairnryan ports. [115828]

§ Beverley Hughes
Passenger 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. When available, Immigration Service staff operate at Stranraer in support of Police controls operated by Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, from whom suspected immigration offenders are referred. Any person so referred is initially processed by the Immigration Service within police accommodation at Stranraer Police Station. Such persons may then be granted temporary release or transferred to Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre. As Stranraer and Cairnryan are within the Common Travel Area there is no lawful requirement for having a permanent on-entry Immigration control at Stranraer or Cairnryan.