Written Question: ETAs for Transit Passengers

Lord Moylan: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect on international competitiveness of requiring airside transit passengers at UK airports to obtain and pay for an Electronic Travel Authorisation if there is no equivalent requirement for those transiting at airports in the European Union.

Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Hanson of Flint): The Government’s number one priority is to keep the UK safe. By closing the current gap in advance permissions, the ETA scheme will, for the first time, give us a comprehensive understanding of those intending to travel to the UK and the ability to prevent the travel of those who pose a threat, including those in transit. A blanket exemption to the ETA requirement for passengers transiting UK airside would risk creating a permission-free route of travel into the UK, which we believe could be open to abuse in future. We will however keep this and other aspects of the scheme under review, including looking at other ways these risks might be mitigated.