To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which airports are using Backscatter X-ray machines; and whether his Department has published guidance on their use. (110183)

I have been asked to reply.

Use of backscatter technology as an alternative to full body hand searching started at London Heathrow airport in June 2004 as part of a programme for trialling enhanced screening processes. The implementation of this equipment is now being evaluated.

Guidance has been given to the operators but is not for publication due to security reasons.