THE UK did not consult properly with Guernsey over changes to border control legislation, a House of Lords select committee has found.

It follows an investigation by the Constitution Committee into the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill that proposes changes to the common travel area which since 1971 has allowed islanders to go to the UK without going through a passport check.

Concerns were raised by all three Crown Dependencies about the limited consultation on the changes and fears that it could eventually lead to permanent border controls and the implications this had for the constitutional relationship.

‘We draw to the attention of the House our view that there does not appear to have been open, effective and meaningful inter-governmental consultations by the United Kingdom Government with the insular authorities in advance of the introduction of the bill,’ said the committee.

‘Such consultation as did take place gives the impression of being muddled and tardy; it demonstrated little appreciation of the constitutional relationship between the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies.’

The Home Office did not engage the islands when it consulted on the common travel area in July 2008 because, according to the minister in charge of the bill, Lord West of Spithead, it did not intend any significant change.

Guernsey was contacted for a response on 18 December 2008.