Conduct
of the inquiry
9. In June 2006 we issued a call for written
evidence which is reproduced in Appendix 2. In reply we received
evidence from eight persons and bodies. In the course of October
and November 2006 we heard oral evidence from 24 witnesses,
including six during a visit to Brussels on 27 and 28 November.
We are most grateful to all those witnesses who sent us written
evidence and gave us oral evidence.
10. Throughout the inquiry we have had as our
Specialist Adviser Steve Peers, Professor of Law at the University
of Essex Centre for European Law. His unrivalled knowledge of
the subject has been of the greatest assistance to us. We are
very grateful for all his help.
Structure
of this report
11. In the following chapter we look in more
detail at the chronological and legislative background, and in
chapter 3 at how the system works in practice. Chapter 4 considers
how it is and should be managed, and chapter 5 the access to the
data. In chapter 6 we look at the data protection issues, while
chapter 7 investigates the special position of the United Kingdom
in relation to immigration data. Finally we summarise our conclusions
and recommendations. We recommend this report to the House
for debate.
1 The United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark joined the
original six Member States (the Benelux, France, Germany and Italy)
in 1973, and Greece in 1981. The Treaty of Accession of Spain
and Portugal was signed in 1985, but the accession did not take
place until 1986. Back
2
Fourth recital to the Agreement. Back
3
The 1985 Schengen Agreement is published in OJ 2000 L 239/13. Back
4
The 1990 Schengen Convention is published in OJ 2000 L 239/19. Back
5
Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland, annexed
to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the
European Community. Back
6
7th Report, Session 1998-99, HL Paper 37. Back
7
Paragraphs 34-40 of the report. Back
