HC Deb 19 March 1957 vol 567 c188
13. Mr. Lee

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the arrangements agreed upon for the mobility of workers between the five Brussels Treaty Powers will be modified by the conditions for the setting up of a Common Market in Western Europe.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Western European Union scheme for the exchange of information on employment available in member States. I cannot anticipate whether any modification in the scheme may be necessitated by the setting up of a Free Trade Area in Western Europe.

Mr. Lee

In the discussions which the Government are having about the Free Trade Area, are they pointing out that we do not envisage the possibility of the large-scale transfer or bringing into this country of foreign labour at a time when it may well be that we will not have sufficient work for our own people?

Mr. Macleod

Yes, indeed. The Trades Union Congress in its representations to the Government brought that and many other points into the statements it made, and they are all taken into account in the discussions that are proceeding.