Brown claims e-borders will help reduce imported terrorism

Brown says e-borders will mitigate terrorism

The government's drive to impose e-borders will help reduce the threat of imported terrorism, prime minister Gordon Brown claimed in the Commons yesterday.

He told MPs: "The introduction of biometric visas and then of the e-Borders system will be of great benefit to us in being able to identify people coming into and leaving the country, and I hope there will be all-party support for that."

He was responding during prime minister's questions to a challenge from The Wrekin Tory MP Mark Pritchard, who asked Brown whether he felt "he had a firm grip on this nation’s national security".

The question was raised in the context of abuses of tourist visas and work permits.

He said he had ordered a review of security arrangements in the wake of the failed Detroit aircraft bomb attempt over Christmas.