Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations her Department has made to member countries of the Schengen Agreement area on the effect of that agreement on the number of irregular migrants to Calais and its environs.
The United Kingdom, whilst being an EU Member State, does not participate in the immigration and border aspects of the Schengen acquis and continues to operate border controls with other EU Member States. Schengen visas are not valid for entry to the UK.
The UK has been a leading voice in recent cross-European efforts to understand and tackle the large flows of illegal migrants across the Mediterranean. That includes participation in European Council and other meetings, as well as bilaterally with key Member States.