Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay and Caroline Dinenage

Monday 25th April 2022 Commons Chamber

[Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab)]

6. What recent assessment she has made of the extent of delays at passport control in UK airports.

[Dame Caroline Dinenage (Gosport) (Con)]

24. What plans she has to improve airport immigration wait times.

[The Minister for Security and Borders (Damian Hinds)]

Easter saw Border Force maintain a secure and effective border, with minor inbound border control disruption, in a period with one of the highest levels of international travel in the past two years. Before Easter, in February and March 2022, more than 85% of queue measurements were under 45 minutes for non-EU passengers.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay and Caroline Dinenage

Thursday 1st July 2021 Commons Chamber

[Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab) [V]]

May I take this opportunity to wish the Sunderland Empire in my constituency a happy 114th birthday? The Government boast free trade deals with 17 countries, each having different rules, making the situation almost as hard as it is with countries with which we do not have trade deals. When are the Government going to sort this out and get a deal to allow our artists, musicians, truckers and support staff to tour across Europe properly, and save this industry before it is too late?

[The Minister for Digital and Culture (Caroline Dinenage)]

We are 100% aware of the importance of the UK’s creative and cultural industries, and the importance of musicians and performers being able to tour easily abroad. We have moved with great urgency to provide the clarity that they need about the current position. Through our engagement with member states, we have established that at least 17 of the 27, including France, Germany and Italy—some of the biggest economic contributors—do allow visa and permit-free touring. We continue to talk to the others.