Minister Phil Woolas said that the expansion of passenger name record (PNR) data collection will be "on a phased, intelligence based approach over five years", and that a maximum of 100m passenger movements will have been collected by the end of December 2013.
This represents about 40% of all journeys. Despite this, the Home Office continues to say it plans to gather data on all passenger movements by 2014 under the e-Borders programme.
"The selection of routes required to provide PNR will be based according to risk," added Woolas.
PNR provides details of a passenger's identity and travel plans.
The question was asked by Conservative MP Philip Davies, who told GC News that a risk based approach was not suitable.
"The terrorist who sought to blow up a plane over the US over Christmas had boarded in Europe," he said. "My view on this is that the government should be using all available data in its checks on those passing through the UK to make sure we are secure."
He said that the UK system is falling behind other countries. "If you look at countries such as Australia, it is miles ahead of us. It is using automatic authority to carry functions ( which prevent someone without clearance to travel from boarding a flight) on all flights."
"We're so far off the pace, and we've spent a fortune," Davies added.
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