§ Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposals for charter airline operators to provide mass data on all passengers carried on their planes. [71421]
§ Mr. Blunkett[holding answer 15 October 2002]: Paragraph 17 of Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (as amended by section 119 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001) gives the power to an examining officer to make a written request to an air or sea carrier for information relating to passengers and goods on all air and sea journey to and from within the United Kingdom. This is an important measure to help us fight terrorism.
The Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (Information) Order 2002 is the enabling power for this provision. The Order was approved by Parliament on 22 July and came into force on 22 August.
Discussions are continuing, which include carriers from all sectors of the industry, including charter airline operators, on the detailed implementation of the Order, and I have assured the industry that the powers will not be used, except in an emergency, until our consultation is complete.