Description

Essential listeng for the Easter and Summer holidays! This episode of 'The Bench Report' will provide you with a quick understanding of the discussions surrounding dedicated passport lines for British passport holders at UK airports, as detailed in recent parliamentary questions.

Explore the debate around dedicated passport lines for British citizens at UK airports. Hear insights from the Home Office on why separate queues could negatively impact border fluidity, despite arguments for a dedicated entry point for returning citizens. We delve into discussions on Brexit's impact, reciprocal arrangements with EU airports, investment in border security, and the complexities of international travel.

Key Takeaways:

• The government has reviewed and currently rejects dedicated UK-only passport queues due to concerns about longer overall waiting times.
• This position is partly attributed to the consequences of Brexit.
• British and Irish citizens, Commonwealth citizens, and those from reciprocal countries can use e-gates, helping to reduce queues.
• The government is focused on growth and ensuring the UK remains a welcoming place for business and tourism.
• They are exploring reciprocal fast-track access for UK citizens with EU airports.
• Significant investment is being made in border security and technology.
• The introduction of the EU's ETA for non-EU members, including UK citizens, is upcoming.

Good luck at the airport!

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No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.

Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.