Written Question: Passports and e-Gates

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to rectify issues with British passport holders whose passports are faulty and cannot be read at e-gates upon arrival at UK airports.

Minister of State, Home Office (Lady Williams of Trafford):The British passport’s electronic chip has been extensively tested to ensure its durability throughout the lifetime of the passport. Additionally, each passport’s electronic chip is assessed as part of the personalisation process.

A passport chip inspection may fail at the Border for several reasons. If a fault is identified with an electronic chip that was assessed to have been present when the passport was issued, then it will be replaced at no additional cost.