The UK’s security minister has been stopped by airport security staff for trying to take more than the permitted amount of liquid onto a passenger jet. Baroness Neville-Jones, the person in charge of looking after Britain’s security, apparently forgot she had the liquids with her in her hand luggage as she passed through the security checks.

A spokesperson for the Home Office said the presence of the liquids in the minister’s bag was inadvertent. The bottle was removed and the baroness complied with all subsequent security procedures, according to the department. The Home Office added that Baroness Neville-Jones respected and supported all the security checks which are in place in airports throughout the country.

The incident apparently occurred as the baroness travelled to the US to attend a conference in Washington. Two days later, an ink cartridge on a plane bound for the US at West Midlands Airport was found to contain potentially explosive liquids.

Anyone trying to board a plane in the UK is allowed no more that 100ml of liquid in their hand luggage. The liquid should be carried in a transparent container. The rules were put into place in 2006 to prevent terrorists boarding airliners with liquid bombs.

Until 1996, Baroness Neville-Jones was a diplomat. She was elevated to Conservative peer in 2007. She was then appointed to the position of security minister by the new coalition government. She recently told the House of Lords how important security at the country’s airports was and how it was vital for everyone to remain vigilant.