Questions
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they will have with managers of United Kingdom airports to ensure that security screening devices do not offend Muslim and other ethnic and religious groups. [HL2688]
The Department for Transport is in regular discussion with airport operators on a range of security issues, including those relating to the deployment of body scanners.
In addition an interim code of practice has been produced following discussions with industry and other government departments for the initial deployment of body scanners.
The department will be launching a full public consultation shortly on the interim code of practice and will consider all representations carefully before preparing a final code of practice later in the year.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of when airport screening devices will have technology which will prevent passengers from having to be inappropriately exposed. [HL2689]
There is a range of different technologies deployed at UK airports for security screening. These technologies have been tested and evaluated by my department both for their detection performance and in respect of operational issues, including protection of privacy.
As the use of body scanners on a global scale increases it is likely that demand will stimulate continued innovation by industry, improving the technology and minimising the privacy impact of body scanners.