To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which groups of people are exempt from passing through security at Northern Ireland's airports; and what the reasons are for the exemptions in each case. (98374)

Certain passengers such as members of the Royal Family, other Heads of State, Presidents, and Heads of Government are exempt from screening at UK airports, on the basis that their security has been satisfactorily ensured in other ways. However, airlines may require that such exempted persons are searched as a condition of carriage, company policy or at the discretion of the aircraft commander.