MPs concerned over UK border scheme

7 Apr 2010

A Government scheme that hopes to record the journey of each person travelling to and from the UK has been called into question by MPs.

The Home Affairs Select Committee raised concerns about the e-Borders project, which aims to tackle the problem of illegal immigration, cross-border crime and terrorism.

But the committee said data protection issues with European Union (EU) nations remained unresolved.

Under the scheme, an EU member would have to consent to provide passenger information before it the data could be collected.

The report warned that without their approval, ministers could be forced to remove from the scheme all journeys within Europe involving a stop in Britain.

The UK Border Agency is also still negotiating with the European Commission over making e-Borders comply with EU rules on freedom of movement, the committee said.

The cross-party committee of MPs said it was "sceptical" whether those problems, and some technical ones involving the transmission of passenger data, would be resolved "swiftly".