§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will rescind the requirement of a transit visa for those airline passengers continuing a journey from Heathrow, having arrived at Gatwick, or vice versa, and who have no intention of remaining in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what criteria were used in deciding to require transit passengers from Gatwick to Heathrow and vice versa to hold a transit visa when travelling by road but not to impose the same requirement for helicopter travellers.
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§ Mr. WaddingtonTransit passengers arriving by air who have a confirmed reservation on an onward flight leaving within 24 hours do not normally need a visa, although this concession has been withdrawn in respect of some nationalities. Transit passengers who can transfer to their onward flights under secure arrangements within the same airport are not required to pass through controls. Others who wish or need to gain access to areas outside an airport's security limits, for example to travel from one airport to another, have to pass through controls. This requirement is an integral part of immigration control. The requirement to pass through controls was waived for helicopter travellers between Gatwick and Heathrow because, when not in the air, they could be kept within secure areas at both airports.