HL Deb 14 July 2003 vol 651 cc78-80WA
Lord MacKenzie of Culkein

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made towards the incorporation of biometric identification into British passports. [HL3818]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Specifications for the deployment of biometrics in passports were agreed and endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in May 2003. The UK Passport Service (UKPS) actively supported the development of these specifications.

The specifications call for a high resolution portrait image stored on a contactless chip embedded in passports and other travel documents. As optional additions, images of fingerprints or irises can be added. The ICAO specifications are designed to ensure interoperability of biometric information.

The UKPS is developing implementation plans compliant with ICAO specification for electronically stored portrait images in British passports. As indicated in its 2003–08 corporate and business plan published on 23 April, the UKPS is aiming to commence production of these passports in early 2005.

Lord MacKenzie of Culkein

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have plans to introduce iris, fingerprint and facial recognition systems at British airports. [HL3819]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

As part of the drive to modernise and improve the effectiveness of the United Kingdom's borders, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate is undertaking a project to implement an automated border entry system using iris recognition technology. A notice inviting expressions of interest from potential technology suppliers has been issued recently in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Passengers in certain eligible categories, details of which have yet to be finalised, who volunteer to enrol in the system will be able to gain entry to the United Kingdom via an automated border entry system that can recognise their iris pattern. This will provide a fast, fraud-resistant way to pass through immigration controls and allow immigration control staff to concentrate on other priorities. The system will not be operational until 2004.

The permanent implementation of automated iris recognition barriers at United Kingdom ports of entry follows a successful trial with frequent travellers conducted at Heathrow last year.

Fingerprints have been taken routinely from asylum seekers at airports (as well as other places where they are encountered) since 1993. In 2001 the Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System (IAFS) was introduced to ports of entry and provided a fast result service. In April 2002 the IAFS was expanded to allow, at Heathrow and Gatwick (in addition to other locations), the production of application registration cards (ARCs) for asylum applicants. These cards include fingerprint data, which are stored in an attached microchip.

We are currently conducting a pilot concentrating on verifying passengers' identities before they embark on flights to the UK. Part of that pilot will examine the extent to which facial recognition might assist in confirming identity.