(1) The Secretary of State may make one or more schemes requiring a person (a "carrier") to seek authority from the Secretary of State to carry persons on aircraft, ships or trains which are -

(a) arriving, or expected to arrive, in the United Kingdom, or

(b) leaving, or expected to leave, the United Kingdom.

A scheme made under this section is called an "authority-to-carry scheme".

(2) An authority-to-carry scheme must specify or describe -

(a) the classes of carrier to which it applies (which may be all carriers or may be defined by reference to the method of transport or otherwise),

(b) the classes of passengers or crew in respect of whom authority to carry must be sought (which may be all of them or may be defined by reference to nationality, the possession of specified documents or otherwise), and

(c) the classes of passengers or crew in respect of whom authority to carry may be refused.

(3) An authority-to-carry scheme may specify or describe a class of person under subsection (2)(c) only if it is necessary in the public interest.

(4) The Secretary of State may make different authority-to-carry schemes for different purposes and in particular may make different schemes for different types of carrier, journey or person.