To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has allocated to the Process Improvement Fund for Wave One airports. (258101)

In November it was announced that a Process Improvement Fund of up to a maximum of £500,000 would be established to enable Wave One participants to take advantage of the opportunities identity cards provide in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of existing pre-employment checking processes, during the 18 month evaluation period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009, Official Report, columns 915-6W, on biometrics: airports, how much her Department spent on IRIS technology in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009 to date. (267462)

The costs incurred to the Department for the maintenance and support of Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS), are as follows:

(a) 2008: £568,100

(b) January to March 2009: £149,600.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which UK airports are using the Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS) what percentage of passengers passing through immigration control at each airport was processed through IRIS on the latest date for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. (269171)

The Iris Recognition Immigration System is in use at ten locations, the five Heathrow Terminals, the two Gatwick Terminals, Manchester Terminals 1 and 2 and at Birmingham Airport.

Over the period from August 2008 to January 2009, the percentages of passengers at those ports passing through the IRIS gates are as follows:

These data are normally used for management information only and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications.