To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has given consideration to collaborating with the French Government in establishing and training a combined border and immigration force to be deployed at Brussels Midi, Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras International stations capable of checking passengers according to the criteria of both Governments, on a one-stop basis; and if she will estimate the financial effect of such an arrangement. (216396)

The UK Border Agency works closely with French and Belgian authorities to promote mutual border security through the very effective border control arrangements at the juxtaposed controls. We have no plans to establish a body along the lines suggested. It is therefore not possible for us to provide an estimate of the financial effect of such an arrangement. This could be discovered only through the detailed examination of both the UK’s and France's existing arrangements, which would involve a disproportionate cost to the business.