To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (i) police officers and (ii) immigration officers were based at each port in England and Wales in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [77280]

Operational deployment of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable. Details of the number of police based at ports in England and Wales is not collated centrally.The number of immigration officers, including assistant immigration officers, based at ports in England and Wales as at 1 January 1997,1998 and 1999 is set out in the table. Immigration officers at some of these locations attend both airports and seaports. Other ports in England and Wales which do not have permanently based staff are covered as required.We are in the process of appointing over 200 additional immigration officers and assistant immigration officers as part of the package of measures designed to deliver the objectives set out in the Government's White Paper.