Call for Evidence

The Justice and Home Affairs Committee is conducting a short inquiry on Electronic Border Management Systems.

The Committee is taking evidence on the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by the UK Government. It is also considering the UK’s preparedness for the launch of two EU border management schemes, the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

The Committee is interested to hear about the likely impact of these schemes, including the impact on people travelling between the UK and the EU in both directions, and, in the case of the UK’s scheme, those coming to the UK from other countries.

It is also interested to hear how the UK’s ETA fits into the Government’s longer-term strategy for digital borders; whether there are any drawbacks associated with its implementation; and how it compares with equivalent travel authorisation schemes elsewhere (including non-European countries).

The Committee would like to hear from individuals and organisations affected by the introduction of these schemes, including anyone with experience in border management. This is an open call for evidence and the Committee is also keen to hear from members of the public who may have concerns about the way that the new systems will affect them. Please bring it to the attention of anyone you know who might be interested.

Respondents are welcome to answer any of the questions set out below and should only address those which are relevant to them. You do not have to answer all the questions. Respondents are equally welcome to flag the importance of other issues related to the inquiry that are not covered in the questions below but which they think the Committee should consider in its work.

Written submissions are requested by 23:59 (GMT) on Monday 25 March 2024.

Questions

What is the purpose of the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)? How does the introduction of the ETA fit into the Government’s longer-term strategy for digital borders?

Has the Government addressed concerns about the potential impact of the ETA on the Common Travel Area?

How much awareness is there of the UK’s system and whose responsibility is it to raise awareness? What would be the most effective way to raise awareness?

What are the potential drawbacks of the ETA and what mitigations might be put in place to address these? What lessons can be learned from the experience of other countries with similar schemes?

What is the potential impact on someone who is refused an ETA?

How can small ports and airports adjust to the ETA requirements?

How will the introduction of ETAs affect citizens who still require a visa to enter the UK?

How does the ETA differ from the EU schemes, and equivalent schemes adopted by other countries (including non-European countries)?

Is the UK prepared for the launch of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)?

What impact will the schemes have in respect of travel between the UK and the EU? What are the implications for dual nationals of the UK and an EU country?

Are there further steps the Government could take to seek mitigations from the impact of the EES and ETIAS?

What is the Government’s role in respect of the juxtaposed borders?

What will the borders of the future look like? Is the UK’s Border Force equipped to deal with future challenges?

Guidance for Submissions

Who can submit evidence?This is a public call for evidence. Everyone is welcome to submit evidence. Please bring it to the attention of other groups and individuals who may have an interest in the Committee’s inquiry.Diversity comes in many forms and hearing a range of different perspectives means that committees are better informed and can more effectively scrutinise public policy and legislation. Committees can undertake their role most effectively when they hear from a wide range of individuals, sectors or groups in society affected by a particular policy or piece of legislation. We encourage anyone with experience or expertise of an issue under investigation by a select committee to share their views with the Committee, with the full knowledge that their views have value and are welcome.

How can evidence be submitted?Written evidence should be submitted online using the submission form. All submissions made through the online submission form will be acknowledged automatically by email. If you do not have access to a computer, you may submit a paper copy to:

Clerk to the Justice and Home Affairs CommitteeCommittee Office, House of Lords,London SW1A 0PW

What should submissions contain?Written submissions should be short and ideally no more than four sides of A4. Longer submissions should include a summary. Paragraphs should be numbered. Submissions should be dated, with a note of the author’s name, and of whether the author is acting on an individual or corporate basis. All submissions made through the online submission form will be acknowledged automatically by email.

You should be careful not to comment on individual cases currently before a court of law or matters in respect of which court proceedings are imminent. If you anticipate such issues arising, you should discuss with the Clerk of the Committee how this might affect your submission.

What happens to the written evidence once submitted?Personal contact details supplied to the Committee will be removed from submissions before publication but will be retained by the Committee staff for specific purposes relating to the Committee’s work, such as seeking additional information.

Submissions become the property of the Committee which will decide whether to accept them as evidence. Evidence may be published by the Committee at any stage. It will normally appear on the Committee’s website and will be deposited in the Parliamentary Archives. Once you have received acknowledgement that your submission has been accepted as evidence, you may publicise or publish it yourself, but in doing so you must indicate that it was prepared for the Committee. If you publish your evidence separately, you should be aware that you will be legally responsible for its content.

In certain circumstances, the Committee may be prepared to publish written evidence on an anonymous basis. If you would like to submit evidence on this basis, you should first discuss this with the Clerk to the Committee.

Certain individuals and organisations may be invited to appear in person before the Committee to give oral evidence. Oral evidence is usually given in public and broadcast online. Persons invited to give oral evidence will be notified separately of the procedure to be followed and the topics likely to be discussed.

Learn moreTo find out more about how to submit written evidence and how the Committee will use your submission, please consult our list of How to guides. More specifically, you may want to consult our Guidance on giving evidence to a Select Committee of the House of Lords, which notably includes a privacy notice. You can also follow the progress of our inquiry on our website or by following us on X / Twitter (@LordsJHACom).

Substantive communications to the Committee about the inquiry should be addressed through the Clerk, whether or not they are intended to constitute formal evidence to the Committee. You can contact the Clerk at HLJusticeHomeAffairs@parliament.uk or at 020 7219 6099.