Eurostar Terminal (Ashford) (Hansard, 15 January 2004)

§ Alistair Burt
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing levels were at the Immigration and Customs posts at the Eurostar Terminal in Ashford on Friday 28 November between 18.00 and 00.00. [144902]

§ Beverley Hughes
The immigration office at the Ashford Eurostar Terminal is normally staffed from 0700 hrs. until 2300 hrs. by immigration officers based at Cheriton.
On the evening of Friday 28 November, the immigration control was staffed as normal until 23:00 hrs. At least one officer was in attendance during the whole of that period. Officers do not control arrivals that have been cleared either at the juxtaposed controls in Paris, or that have been cleared on board. All cleared trains are notified to the office in advance. Only one train that evening had been cleared prior to arrival in Ashford.
Customs regularly deploy anti-smuggling teams to Ashford on a risk-assessed basis. They also participate in occasional joint exercises with other Control authorities such as the Immigration Service and the British Transport police. However on the 28 November there were no customs officers in attendance at Ashford due to a special exercise taking place at Waterloo International Terminal.

§ Alistair Burt
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Immigration and Customs posts at the Eurostar Rail Terminal in Ashford are staffed at all times; and if he will make a statement. [144903]

§ Beverley Hughes
The immigration office at the Ashford Eurostar Terminal is normally staffed from 0700 hours until 2300 hours by immigration officers based at Cheriton.
Officers are scheduled to attend for all Eurostar arrivals which have not been pre-cleared. Immigration officers do not control arrivals that have been fully cleared either at the juxtaposed controls in Paris, or on board. All cleared trains are notified to the office in advance.
Customs deploy anti-smuggling teams to Ashford on a risk-assessed basis. They also participate in occasional joint exercises with other Control authorities such as the Immigration Service and British Transport police.