HC Deb 12 March 1970 vol 797 cc1534-5
5. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what advantages will be enjoyed by European Economic Community nationals in the matter of immigration to this country in the event of the Government signing the Treaty of Rome.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

The main advantage would be that, if coming for employment, they would no longer require work permits.

Mr. Jenkins

Will my hon. Friend give an undertaking to Governments of Commonwealth countries that if we should, unhappily, acede to the Treaty of Rome, their nationals would not be placed in an inferior position to nationals of European countries?

Mrs. Williams

My hon. Friend has asked for this assurance on a number of occasions. I think it must be clear to him that the present arrangements are very different, and no assurance can be given in advance of the negotiations for entry into the Common Market.

Sir D. Renton

Do the Government propose to accept the E.E.C.'s regulations with regard to settlement and immigration as they stand, or will they be the subject of negotiation?

Mrs. Williams

I think the right hon. and learned Gentleman will know that a number of the principles covering immigration, such as Article 48, are required to be accepted by anybody who joins the European Economic Community. On the other hand, he will also know that a number of the Community Member States themselves have the problem of countries with which they have been associated over the years, as is the case with France and Algeria, and in these cases it has been usual up to now for special provision to be made.