Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Transport when the new procedures requiring 285W passengers for Israel to queue in the public area of terminal 1, Heathrow airport, commenced; what assessment he has made of the security implications of such passengers being visible in such a public area for a prolonged period of time; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerSince the El Al operation was moved to terminal 1 in January, the check-in and security procedures for passengers to Israel have been carried out within a separate area screened off from the public concourse. In recent weeks the security procedures have been stepped up, and I am informed that on occasions the resulting delays have caused the queue to tail back beyond the entrance to the dedicated area. My security advisers will be discussing possible ways of preventing this with the British Airports Authority. In the meantime, the area continues to be kept under careful police surveillance.