§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take in respect of the practice of HM Customs officials routinely scanning computer laptops brought into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [55459]
§ Dawn PrimaroloI have been asked to reply.
HM Customs and Excise do not routinely scan laptops brought into the UK; Customs' anti-smuggling checks are guided by risk profiles and intelligence assessments, in order to concentrate their effort in the most productive areas and cause the minimum delay to the travelling public.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the practice of HM Customs officials routinely scanning laptops brought into the United Kingdom; what record is kept of information so gleaned and for what purposes; and what safeguards are in place to prevent the misuse of such information. [55461]
§ Dawn PrimaroloI have been asked to reply.
HM Customs and Excise do not routinely scan laptops brought into the UK; Customs' anti-smuggling checks are guided by risk profiles and intelligence assessments, in order to concentrate their effort in the most productive areas and cause the minimum delay to the travelling public. The aim of checks on laptops is to detect indecent or obscene material, in particular material featuring children; no record is kept of any other information encountered. Officers regularly encounter private or commercial correspondence and similar material in the course of their duties and are bound by their normal duty 939W of confidentiality. Anyone misusing such information would be subject to Departmental disciplinary proceedings and, if appropriate, dismissal.