asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to record the passport details of all persons departing from the United Kingdom; and, if so, when the facility to do so will be complete. [HL591]

Intelligence-led targeted embarkation controls are currently in place at Heathrow and Gatwick to focus on identifying failed asylum seekers and other immigration offenders who are leaving the UK. Those identified as immigration offenders can be served with appropriate notices and their embarkation recorded in the event that they should seek to return to the UK. The e-Borders programme, scheduled to commence in 2008, will strengthen and modernise our border control and provide an electronic record of those entering and leaving the UK.