Government Want To Know Who You Are With

A report in the Times informs us that a new 'super' data base is being put together near Manchester in the fight against crime, illegal immigration and terrorism.

The intelligence centre will store names, addresses, telephone numbers, seat reservations, travel itineraries and credit card details for all 250m passenger movements in and out of the UK each year. Not only is that information recorded but also the database is expected to monitor people’s travel companions.

One immigration official, with knowledge of the plans, said "A lot of this stuff will have a legitimate use in the fight against crime and terrorism, but it’s what else it could be used for that presents a problem,” and “It will be able to detect whether parents are taking their children abroad during school holidays. It could be useful to the tax authorities because it will tell them how long non-UK domiciled people are spending in the UK.”

Phil Woolas, the Immigration Minister, said “The UK has one of the toughest borders in the world and we are determined to ensure it stays that way. Our high-tech electronic borders system will allow us to count all passengers in and out and targets those who aren’t willing to play by our rules.”

Bearing in mind this government's history of setting up any data base, I would be intrigued to know what it is that makes Mr. Woolas (or is that pronounced Wool Arse) believe he will still be 'in government' when it does become operational? 

Methinks our Phil has been talking to the fairies!