The work of the Immigration Directorates (January - June 2014) : ninth report of session 2014-15, report, together with formal minutes

In 1998, the previous government abolished exit checks, paper-based embarkation records of passengers departing from the UK, because they were too resource intensive.

Those universal exit checks were replaced by an intelligence-led approach, using CCTV and greater liaison between border agencies, port operators and transport carriers.

This approach was subsequently superseded by the e-Borders programme, announced in February2005.

The e-Borders programme has stalled and was "terminated" in March 2014 and that the Home Office would bereplacing individual systems, such as the Warnings Index and Semaphore, separately.

At the moment, data for air passengers travelling in and out of the UK is sourced from carrier lists, known as Advanced Passenger Information (API).

Air passengers buy tickets in advance and check in a reasonable time before departure, so API coverage is good, about 80% and increasing.

Coverage is not so good for rail and ferry passengers, partly because of the ticketing systems and partly because customers can decide to travel, buy a ticket and have checked in at a time near to departure. Both the Minister and the Director General of Border Force have assured the Committee that 100% exit checks will be in place by 31st March 2015.

To deliver exit checks, the Home Office needs to find a mechanism that can count all of the rail and maritime passengers as they depart the UK by the end of March.

Exit checks will be carried out by the transport operators' staff, not Border Force.

The Committee hope this can be delivered.