Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on the proposals in the European Commission press release, A European Border and Coast Guard to protect Europe's External Borders, IP/15/6327; and if she will estimate the potential effect of those proposals on the budget of the UK Border Force.

The proposal for a European Border and Coast Guard builds on provisions of the Schengen agreement in which the UK does not participate; the UK will not therefore be bound by the new regulation, and will receive a refund on any contributions relating to this proposal, in line with its financing share of the EU budget.

The UK is supportive of steps to increase the security of the external Schengen border - we have a strong interest in effective management of the Schengen external border, not just in combating illegal migration, and cross-border crime but also as part of the EU-wide counter-terrorism effort.