Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will take steps to put on statutory basis the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2011 by the UK and Ireland to strengthen the Common Travel Area arrangement; and if she will make a statement.

The 2011 Joint Ministerial Statement regarding cooperation on measures to secure the external Common Travel Area border sets out the intent to improve cooperation. This joint programme includes investment in border procedures, increased data sharing to inform immigration and border security decisions, interoperable passenger data systems, including the collection and use of passenger data, and harmonised visa policy and processes. In the coming months, as the UK prepares to leave the EU, we will strengthen cooperation with our partners in the Republic of Ireland and secure a deal that works in the interests of both countries.