Decision on e-Borders deal by Christmas

The Home Office will decide by Christmas which of two consortia will win a £400 million contract to supply the technology to underpin the Government`s £1.2 billion e-Borders project.

The shortlisted groups are BT Emblem, which includes Anite, IBM, Lockheed Martin and Logica CMG, and Trusted Borders, led by Ray Theon, with Accenture, Capgem ini, Detica, Qinetiq, Serco and Steria.

The Home Office said it was unclear whether e-Borders would have access to data available to police under the Prüm Treaty, which allows European police forces to share personal data collected during investigations.

The scheme will use biometrics, such as digitised fingerprint images, to link people, travel documents and identities. It is a joint venture by the Border and Immigration Agency, Customs, police and UK Visas.