A SCATHING attack has been launched on the UK by a Policy Council member over the eBorders plans.

The Home Department is looking for around £1m. to meet requirements that include electronically collecting and analysing information about passengers travelling to or from the UK before they depart.

The cost also covers biometric passports which will be needed by 2011-12.

Housing minister Dave Jones, a member of the External Relations Group, said that once again something was being forced upon us.

‘The UK government via the EU are saying that they want to track everyone who is coming through their ports. Therefore, if we wish to travel to the UK or the EU then we have no option other than to comply with this new directive,’ he said.

‘They no longer wish to target those whom they believe have evil intent. They prefer now to assume that we all have evil intent and in my view it has more to do with legitimising their right to government control over every aspect of our lives than it does with homeland security.’

He added that the full implications would not be known until all the details were published.

‘It is in my view control freakery on a massive scale and when you think they cannot even prevent hundreds of illegal immigrants every year going through English seaports in the backs of lorries, you have to ask what on earth is the point of tracking honest travellers going through proper channels?’