To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place at St. Pancras station to intercept human traffickers and their victims; and how many traffickers and victims have been apprehended since the Eurostar service to that station started. (207579)

[holding answer 2 June 2008]: On 14 November 2007 Eurostar's London terminus moved from Waterloo to St. Pancras and the decision was made to examine arriving passengers at our juxtaposed controls in France and Belgium.

Juxtaposed UK border controls have been in place at Paris, Lille and Calais Frethun since June 2001 and at Brussels since October 2004. They are staffed by UK Border Agency staff. If a passenger has qualified for entry to the UK at one of the juxtaposed controls, but has aroused suspicion for other reasons, they may be referred to the appropriate UK agency and can be intercepted by British Transport Police at St. Pancras.

Between December 2007 and May 2008, UKBA staff at the juxtaposed Eurostar ports have referred 25 cases to the European Operations' Intelligence Team for further investigation.

UKBA staff at juxtaposed ports work closely with the UK, French and Belgium police to ensure that we do the maximum possible to disrupt human trafficking and to provide appropriate support to the victims, ensuring they are properly cared for.