To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) hair gel, (b) toothpastes, (c) lip balm, (d) water, (e) liquid cosmetics, (f) other liquids, (g) nail clippers, (h) lighters, (i) corkscrews and (j) other sharp items are permitted to be carried within the hand luggage of passengers on flights departing foreign airports for destinations within the UK. (95398)

[holding answer 19 October 2006]: International civil aviation security is framed by the principle of “host state responsibility”, whereby each state is responsible for the security of flights from its territory. It is for the relevant authority in each state to determine what items are prohibited at its airports from being carried in passengers' hand baggage. The International Civil Aviation Organisation offers advice to contracting states in this regard, and the UK and other states are working with ICAO to update that advice. Within the European Union there is a common list of prohibited items which applies at EU airports. This list, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/59&format=HTML&aged=0%3Cuage=EN&guiLanguage=en is presently being amended in light of the recent aviation security alert in the UK. It includes pointed or bladed articles capable of causing injury. ICAO's common list of prohibited items also includes pointed or bladed articles capable of causing injury.