Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made regarding the United Kingdom's access to the European Asylum Dactyloscopy Database; and how that access will enhance the United Kingdom's ability to manage immigration and asylum processes.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are committed to resetting the relationship with our European partners, including the EU, which will support us in tackling organised immigration crime and small boat crossings.
We have already enhanced our work with EU agencies, having delivered an immediate 50% uplift in NCA officers to be based in Europol. Wherever the UK and European partners can better jointly tackle shared challenges, including through enhanced information sharing, the Government will consider options to facilitate that cooperation further.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to seek a returns agreement with the European Union to tackle small boat crossings.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are committed to resetting the relationship with our European partners, including the EU, which will support us in tackling organised immigration crime and small boat crossings.
We have already enhanced our work with EU agencies, having delivered an immediate 50% uplift in NCA officers to be based in Europol. Wherever the UK and European partners can better jointly tackle shared challenges, including through enhanced information sharing, the Government will consider options to facilitate that cooperation further.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with UK-based airlines about the implementation of Passenger Name Record monitoring after January 2021.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Negotiations are currently ongoing with the European Union to secure an agreement which provides for reciprocal transfers of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to protect the public from serious crime and terrorism, and which provides a lawful basis for UK and EU airlines to continue to transfer PNR data to law enforcement agencies in the UK and the Member States.
The Home Office meets with UK airlines regularly at meetings of the UK National Air Transport Facilitation Committee to provide updates and address concerns relating to transfers of PNR data following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and ahead of the end of the withdrawal transition period.