Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of on-duty UK Border Force officers deployed at airports in each year since 2008.

We will always ensure we have the resources and workforce we need to keep the border secure. This is achieved through a multi- layered system of capabilities, including: people, technology, intelligence, and joint working. Border Force is committed to ensuring that passengers arriving in the UK receive an excellent service. Operational units across the Home Office actively monitor workflows to ensure sufficient resources are in place to meet demand.

We are investing in new technology, like e-Passport gates and motion detection technology, to improve security and prevent illegal entry to the UK to improve security, benefit passengers and deliver efficiencies. Border Force invested a total of £90.4m in new technology and capability in 15-16 and 16-17 combined and a further £63.5m in 17-18.

The Home Office and Border Force is working with other Government Departments to develop our future approach at the border. We will ensure Border Force has the resources and workforce required to keep the border secure.