To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the Eurostar route to and from the Continent is secure against misuse by illegal immigrants and those wishing to bring illegal drugs into the United Kingdom. [14205]
Foreign nationals travelling on Eurostar services are subject to examination by United Kingdom Immigration Officers. We liaise with French and Belgian authorities to ensure that this control is effective, and are currently examining with Eurostar and French authorities the issue of permanent document checks in Paris. The French authorities are assisting with random checks at the moment. These were introduced at the request of this Government because under the system we inherited there were no checks at all in Paris. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise operate checks for drugs on Eurostar passengers at Ashford and Waterloo terminals. These checks are based on intelligence, information and risk-testing analysis.