§ 7. Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in United Kingdom immigration laws will be necessary if the United Kingdom joins the European Economic Community.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)Her Majesty's Government are examining the legal implications of adherence to the Treaty of Rome, but I cannot yet make any statement about changes which might be needed in our immigration legislation.
§ Mr. RidleyDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the position in this country under the recently passed Commonwealth Immigrants Act is, if anything, more liberal than the position obtaining in the Common Market at present, and does he think that this Act would have to be amended if we joined?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. It is precisely because we are at the beginning of negotiations and because the full implications of the Treaty of Rome are not clear that I cannot yet give an answer to my hon. Friend's Question.
§ Mr. FletcherIs it the Home Secretary's conception that, if we join the Common Market, nationals of Common Market territories will, as a consequence, be able to come to this country without restriction?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. The articles of the Treaty of Rome which relate to this are not so simple as that. They entail the question of obtaining and having a job to come to.