EU plans to force airlines to hand over passenger data have been slammed as "half-baked".

Measures aimed at curbing illegal immigration were condemned on Thursday by peers on an all-party House of Lords committee.

Members of the EU committee rejected the idea for airlines and ferry firms to hand over passenger data to immigration authorities in advance of journeys.

Peers warned the idea, which was first put forward by the Spanish government in March 2003, had not been thought through.

Delays

It would increase major passenger delays and would fail to combat either organised crime or national security threats, they concluded.

Passengers refused travel would also have no way of claiming compensation.

The proposal would also create substantial costs for new IT systems on carriers that barely survive in a tough market.

"This is a half-baked idea, which is unlikely to reduce illegal immigration significantly," said Baroness Harris of Richmond, who chaired the inquiry.

"It would certainly cause massive disruption to millions of passengers travelling into and around the EU, and create substantial extra costs for air and sea carriers. It is an unnecessary additional burden for a hard-pressed aviation industry. The EU should think again."