Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Ed Davey Excerpts
Monday 21st January 2019

(5 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this issue. We have started to deploy aerial surveillance of the English channel since I declared a major incident. While we await the arrival of the two cutters in early February, we have increased the presence of vessels, including with help from the Royal Navy. I will be meeting my French counterpart, Minister Castaner, this week.

Ed Davey Portrait Sir Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton) (LD)
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Further to the question asked by the right hon. Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), the police have said that direct access to EU databases such as SIS II are mission critical for their work in tackling criminals and terrorists. What guarantee can the Home Secretary give the House today that, after the transition period, Britain and the police will still have access to these mission-critical databases?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that those databases are important, which is why it is very good that we have an agreement in the political declaration to consider how we can keep using such arrangements. Again, if he is that concerned, he should support the deal.