HC Deb 30 November 2000 vol 357 c832W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Commission's plans for a new design for EU passports. [139785]

Mr. Vaz

The European Commission is studying whether there are ways of improving the security of travel documents, including passports. No official proposals have yet been put forward. The Commission have made it clear that they have no intention of proposing the replacement of national emblems with EU stars. The Government will look at any proposals to improve security on their merits, and will oppose any ideas that have no practical security justification.