To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether her Department (a) has provided and (b) is planning to provide assistance to the EU Border Agency in its border security duties. (117047)

The UK strongly supports the EU Border Agency (Frontex). Through the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Government have provided input to Frontex in relation to finance, to operational planning and training, as well as participating in a number of Frontex operations, including in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. The Government look to participate in Frontex operational activity where we see value in doing so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she had on the EU Border Agency at the recent meeting of European Union Justice and Home Affairs Council; and if she will make a statement. (117150)

The UK is represented at Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Councils by Ministers from the Home Office and the Department of Constitutional Affairs. The JHA Informal Meeting on 15-16 January 2007 was attended by my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, right hon. Baroness Ashton of Upholland, and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Nationality, Citizenship and Immigration (Joan Ryan). The EU Border Agency was discussed briefly in the context of EU migration policy, but it was not a formal item on the agenda.