Clause 14
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Phil Woolas (Minister of State (also in the Home Office), Home Office; Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Miss Begg, on this important Bill.
Amendment 9 would prevent a designated customs official from using the personal data of a United Kingdom citizen to restrict that citizen’s right to enter or leave the UK where there is an apparently legitimate purpose for the journey. In other words, the amendment tabled by the hon. Member for Ashford probes the circumstances under which UK Border Agency officials could stop a legitimate journey by a UK citizen, and the nature of the information that could be used to apprehend or inspect a person.
The provision is an essential tool in support of law enforcement and is key to the agency being able to secure the optimal deployment of its resources across all of its functions. However, the hon. Gentleman may be reassured to know that the provision is subject to any restriction or prohibition on the disclosure of information imposed in part 1 or in any other enactment or agreement to which the UK is party. Those restrictions and prohibitions will be particularly important for personal customs information.