Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has clashed with a Commons committee chairman over spending on aviation security.
Mr Hammond told the House of Commons Transport Committee that there were plans to transfer some of the cost of aviation security to the industry. He said that there would be no relaxation of security standards but there would be more flexibility in introducing measures.
But the committee's chairman, Louise Ellman MP, said she was concerned that it was emerging that there would be "quite significant cuts" in spending on aviation security.
She went on: "There is a concern that this is being cost-driven rather than needs-driven."
Mr Hammond told MPs that he was looking to transfer some of the responsibility on aviation security from the Department for Transport to the Civil Aviation Authority or to aviation industry operators.
He said there were different ways of introducing aviation security, adding: "I am not suggesting we relax the standards we require. I am suggesting more flexibility."
Mr Hammond was asked if it was possible to have fewer checks at airports and still maintain good security.
He replied: "The way forward is to try to focus more effectively on high-risk behaviour. It's possible that in some cases more searches (of passengers) than are necessary have been carried out."
Mr Hammond said he "completely rejected" the notion that some areas - such as aviation security - were somehow immune from the need for savings. He added: "Almost every activity is capable of yielding some efficiency gains."
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