Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Electronic Travel Authorisation requirements for transit passengers on the competitiveness of the (a) airline and (b) tourism sectors.

The Government is committed to strengthening the UK’s border by ensuring that everyone (except British and Irish citizens) wishing to travel to the UK, including to transit through the UK, obtains permission to travel in advance of their journey. It will make the UK safer.

The requirement to obtain an ETA will enable the Government to prevent the travel of those who present a risk to the UK, including those in transit. The process for obtaining an ETA will be quick and light touch, and the cost (£10 per application) will be minimal compared to the overall cost of international travel. The ETA brings the UK into line with the USA’s ESTA and the EU will shortly introduce the ETTAS.