Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 15 May 2006.
When he will publish the results and his assessment of Project IRIS.
The iris recognition immigration system—IRIS—provides fast, secure clearance through UK immigration controls for pre-assessed passengers, reducing the possibility of identity fraud. The project will be evaluated once the roll-out of all 10 IRIS barriers is complete in December 2006. The results will be published following the evaluation.
The answer that the Home Office gave me in September 2005 was that evaluation would be complete in October 2005. As the Minister and her colleagues know, I have constantly asked for publication of the results of the pilot scheme and the Home Office has constantly denied me those results. Will the Minister take this opportunity to explain why, eight months after the evaluation of the pilot project, the Government have not published the results? Will she confirm that it has met—
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. I know of his interest in the matter and he is right: delivery of the project has been subject to some delay, albeit for some very good reasons. The pilot phase was extended after the terrorist attacks on
Has my hon. Friend commissioned any research to bottom the controversy that appears to be raging about changes to iris patterns, especially in pregnancy? The matter was denied by the man who developed the iris recognition project when he appeared before the Select Committee on Science and Technology a few days ago, but we should at least carry out research to prove, or otherwise, the claims that are being made.
My hon. Friend makes an important point about Project IRIS. There is ongoing research and review at all stages. I shall ensure that the information about changing iris patterns is taken on board and I will keep in contact with my hon. Friend to keep him up to date as we take note of research findings.