§ 3. Mr. Tilneyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in order to increase the solidarity of the Atlantic community, he will consider proposing, on a basis of reciprocity, to other member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation the mutual abolition of visas.
§ Mr. NuttingI would refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Belfast, North (Lieut.-Colonel Hyde) on 29th October last, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) on 12th November and 17th November last. From these answers, he will see that visa abolition agreements already exist with all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries except Greece, Portugal and the United States.
§ Mr. TilneyDoes not my hon. Friend agree that if the Atlantic community is to grow and to expand, a further step, such as the abolition of visas, is necessary?
§ Mr. NuttingI entirely agree, and we are doing our best to get visa abolition agreements wherever it lies within our power, that is, between Her Majesty's Government and the Governments of member countries. We are discussing the matter with Greece, though no agreement has yet been concluded. As regards Portugal, the position is as stated in my answer of 12th November. As regards the United States, my hon. Friend will be aware that the American immigration laws do not permit that country to enter into any kind of visa abolition agreement.