Written question asked by Tony Baldry (Conservative) on Wednesday, 25 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 October 2007. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 October 2007 on behalf of the Home Office.

Passports: Biometrics

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Prime Minister's statement of 25 July 2007, Official Report, columns 841-45, on national security, whether EU citizens will be regarded as foreign nationals for this purpose; whether a biometric passport is a satisfactory form of biometric ID for this purpose; and whether it will be an offence for a relevant person not to carry or be able to produce biometric ID.

Answer: Further to the Prime Minister's security statement of 25 July 2007, Official Report, columns 841-45, I can advise that the UKvisas, the joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office directorate with responsibility for issuing visas to non-EEA nationals, are on track to roll-out the requirement that, by the end of March 2008, all visa nationals and all non-EEA nationals seeking to stay in the United Kingdom for more than six months, are required to provide their biometric data as part of the visa application process.The Prime Minister's statement also related to our plans in the UK Borders Bill to require non-EEA nationals subject to immigration control and already in the UK to apply for a 'Biometric Immigration Document'. This will be achieved incrementally with the process starting before the end of 2008. It will not be compulsory for a person to carry a 'Biometric Immigration Document' at all times following Government amendments to the UK Borders Bill.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 465 c1286W; 153959
Session: 2006-07
Related items: National Security
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects: Biometrics Entry clearances
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk