FOREWORD—What this report is about
In 2006 there were 200 million passenger movements across the United Kingdom's borders. By 2015 the annual figure is expected to have risen to 300 million. Basic information about those entering and leaving the country has been collected for many years, but more recently the threat of terrorism and other serious organised crime has made it important to collect and analyse fuller information—Passenger Name Record or PNR data—from which aspects of a passenger's history and conduct can be deduced, and further inquiries made if this seems necessary.
The United Kingdom and some other countries already collect PNR data. In the case of the United Kingdom this is done as part of the e-Borders project. Now there is an EU initiative which would require all Member States to collect PNR data and to share them with other Member States. Negotiations on the draft Framework Decision are at an early stage, but it is already clear that the United Kingdom and some other States believe that the draft does not go far enough; they would like to see PNR data collected and exchanged for purposes other than fighting terrorism and organised crime. They would also like the Framework Decision to cover forms of travel other than air travel between the EU and third countries.
In this short inquiry we have been looking at the position the Government are adopting in these negotiations. To some extent this has involved considering the draft Framework Decision itself. We have particularly been looking to see whether the draft, in its current form or as amended during negotiations, will be striking the right balance between the wide collection and use of data for security purposes and the rights of individuals to protection of their private and personal data
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