The government is to stage a short-term trial of a ’passenger travel information scheme’ to try to find a way of ensuring freedom of movement with the UK and Ireland without compromising security.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas has confirmed the trial and is expected to make the details known later this year.

He said: ’The Cabinet Office is continuing to develop the passenger travel information scheme and, in doing so, is preparing an implementation and communication plan for the trial. These plans will consider the requirements for implementation and will agree dates for a trial passenger travel information scheme to commence.

’As Minister for Policy and Reform I will be making a full statement at the October sitting of Tynwald on the border security policy, once the details of the implementation and timing of the passenger travel information scheme have been finalised.’

He was responding in a written answer to a Tynwald question from Daphne Caine (Garff). Although he did not spell out the format of the scheme, it is understood it will not involve identity cards or a central database.

Mrs Caine asked him to publish the border security policy that the Council of Ministers approved in June.

Mr Thomas said the policy, which does not cover immigration control, was a ’recommitment’ to and development of a policy first approved by the Council of Ministers, and subsequently Tynwald, in 2010.

At that time, Tynwald approved the ’ongoing policy of the government to safeguard the freedom of movement of Isle of Man residents between the Isle of Man and the UK and vice versa, by being included within the UK e-Border’.

He explained: ’The stated priority of the Council of Ministers from 2010 was to safeguard the freedom of movement of island residents between the Isle of Man, Ireland and the United Kingdom and vice versa, and without being required to produce a passport on journeys within the Common Travel Area.’

The 2017 border security policy states: ’The Council of Ministers reiterates a commitment to protecting the freedom of movement which is paramount to Isle of Man residents by securing the Isle of Man’s part of the "wider CTA border".

’In developing this policy, a primary principle has been to ensure that unhindered freedom of travel between the Isle of Man, the United Kingdom and Ireland is retained, whilst enhancing the ability of the Isle of Man Constabulary to protect the island from crime.’

Mrs Caine had asked him to outline how those travelling would be required to identify themselves, and whether Steam Packet passengers would be included in any scheme.

She also wanted to know what discussions had taken place with the UK.

Mr Thomas did not reply to those specific queries, save for a commitment to ensure the details of the scheme would be communicated in October.

However, he told the Isle of Man Examiner: ’It is important to distinguish between border control and border security in an Isle of Man context.

’Border - or immigration - control is the process for ensuring customs and immigration laws are enforced.

’This is a complex subject due to the Isle of Man’s membership of the Common Travel Area, the extension of the UK’s primary immigration legislation to the Isle of Man and the treatment of European Economic Area (EEA) nationals in the Isle of Man.’

He added: ’Border security is the assessment, detection and mitigation of threats to the Isle of Man’s safety from outside the island’s physical borders.

’This policy is specifically focused on the safety of the Isle of Man from criminality and providing improved intelligence for the safe protection of our island through a passenger travel information scheme.

’It should also be noted that aviation and maritime security are excluded from this policy.

’They are specific measures taken at the airport and in the island’s ports and harbours for the prevention of unlawful interference to vessels and are out of scope in this context.’