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Border checks still a priority, says Home Office Checks 'still priority' after E-borders 'terminated'
(35 minutes later)
The Home Office has strongly denied that the system of border checks on people entering and leaving the UK has been downgraded. The Home Office has denied downgrading plans to check all people entering and leaving the UK.
The head of the UK Border Force, Sir Charles Montgomery, told MPs on Tuesday that the E-borders scheme had been "terminated" in its current form. The head of the UK Border Force, Sir Charles Montgomery, told MPs on Tuesday the troubled E-borders scheme had been "terminated" in its current form.
Officials confirmed the original scheme had been dropped last summer but said the checks and screening were now incorporated into a new programme. Officials said the original scheme had been dropped last summer, saying the checks and screening were now incorporated into a new programme.
MPs are calling for greater clarity. Home Affairs committee chairman Keith Vaz MP called it a "shambles".
E-borders, devised by the Labour government in 2003, was designed to count everyone in and out of the UK by collecting advance passenger information on all scheduled inbound and outbound journeys to and from the UKE-borders, devised by the Labour government in 2003, was designed to count everyone in and out of the UK by collecting advance passenger information on all scheduled inbound and outbound journeys to and from the UK
The system, which is expected to cost £536m from 2007 to 2015, has been dogged by problems over the past decade. The system, which was expected to cost £536m from 2007 to 2015, has been dogged by problems over the past decade.
It was delayed for several years, its brief changed, and the government has become embroiled in a legal battle with a former contractor, US firm Raytheon, after it was fired in 2010 for what officials said was an "extremely disappointing" performance.
'Full capability''Full capability'
Giving evidence to the Home Affairs Committee, Sir Charles was asked about the future of E-borders and the government's goal of re-introducing full exit checks on those leaving the UK by the time of the 2015 election. It was delayed for several years, its brief changed, and the government has become embroiled in a legal battle with a former contractor, US firm Raytheon, after it was fired in 2010 for what officials said was an "extremely disappointing" performance.
Giving evidence to the Home Affairs Committee, director general of the UK Border Force Sir Charles was asked about the future of E-borders and the government's goal of re-introducing full exit checks on those leaving the UK by the time of the 2015 election.
"The permanent secretary (of the Home Office) is aware that the E-borders programme has been terminated," he said."The permanent secretary (of the Home Office) is aware that the E-borders programme has been terminated," he said.
While he said he hoped universal exit checks would be in place by next year, he suggested the "full E-borders capability" - as originally envisaged in 2003 - would not be. While he said he hoped universal exit checks would be in place by next year, he suggested the "full E-borders capability" - as originally envisaged - would not be.
In response, the Home Office said more priority, not less, was being given to the issue and all the checks and screening involved in e-borders had been incorporated, since last summer, into the Border Systems Programme.In response, the Home Office said more priority, not less, was being given to the issue and all the checks and screening involved in e-borders had been incorporated, since last summer, into the Border Systems Programme.
This programme incorporates information provided by airlines on passengers in advance of their journeys, the operation of the Warnings Index to identify individuals considered a potential threat, security exit checks and other screening.This programme incorporates information provided by airlines on passengers in advance of their journeys, the operation of the Warnings Index to identify individuals considered a potential threat, security exit checks and other screening.
Exit checks are currently carried out on 80% of people leaving the UK and the Home Office said the commitment to make this universal by the time of the next election remained in place.Exit checks are currently carried out on 80% of people leaving the UK and the Home Office said the commitment to make this universal by the time of the next election remained in place.
The Home Office said the original business plan for E-borders had been changed and improved after the contract with Raytheon was cancelled. The Home Office said the original business plan for E-borders had been "changed and improved" after the contract with Raytheon was cancelled.
Last October, the chief inspector of borders said a major rethink on E-borders was needed because airports were not meeting those with terrorist alerts against them on arrival.Last October, the chief inspector of borders said a major rethink on E-borders was needed because airports were not meeting those with terrorist alerts against them on arrival.
Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said the government still had questions to answer.Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said the government still had questions to answer.
'Debacle''Debacle'
"The E-borders project has ended in a shambles," he told the BBC."The E-borders project has ended in a shambles," he told the BBC.
"This debacle has cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds, taken more than a decade and yet we still do not know if the original objectives will ever be achieved.""This debacle has cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds, taken more than a decade and yet we still do not know if the original objectives will ever be achieved."
He added: "Promises have been made that exit checks will be in place by the general election, but given past failures the government need to urgently clarify the timetable for the completion of the rest of the programme, what components of the original e-borders programme have been dropped and when arbitration proceedings with Raytheon will finally conclude.He added: "Promises have been made that exit checks will be in place by the general election, but given past failures the government need to urgently clarify the timetable for the completion of the rest of the programme, what components of the original e-borders programme have been dropped and when arbitration proceedings with Raytheon will finally conclude.
"We cannot allow this saga to continue and our borders to remain un-policed.""We cannot allow this saga to continue and our borders to remain un-policed."
The Home Office said it had written to Mr Vaz last summer to advise him of the changes to E-borders.The Home Office said it had written to Mr Vaz last summer to advise him of the changes to E-borders.