HC Deb 15 January 1997 vol 288 cc309-10
5. Dr. Goodson-Wickes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consultations he has had with his European counterparts about frontier controls within the European Union. [9237]

Mr. Rifkind

The intergovernmental conference has discussed possible developments of justice and home affairs on a number of occasions. We have made it clear that we will take whatever steps are necessary to maintain our frontier controls.

Dr. Goodson-Wickes

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that, in addition to the need to block entry to this country by drug dealers, terrorists and other undesirable elements, we need to control the migration from eastern Europe and beyond by people who are motivated by economic factors rather than genuinely seeking asylum? Will he assure the House that, during the IGC, he and his Home Office colleagues will continue to resist vigorously any pressure to sign up to the Schengen treaty, accession to which would hopelessly compromise our existing controls and would, I suggest, put the security of this country at risk?

Mr. Rifkind

I can give my hon. Friend that unqualified assurance. We have no intention of acceding to the Schengen controls. Our commitments under the single market relate to the free movement of EU citizens, and it is crucial for us to maintain controls as regards citizens from third countries. We have every intention of maintaining those controls in the years to come.

Dr. Marek

Will the Secretary of State assure the House that he will not agree to anything within the EU that will ensure that the frontier between Gibraltar and Spain is treated any differently—apart from customs union matters—from the frontiers between Spain and Portugal and between Spain and France?

Mr. Rifkind

I agree that this is an important matter. The hon. Gentleman may have seen press reports that suggest that the Spanish are considering restricting the use of Gibraltar passports, but we have made it clear that that would be totally unacceptable. The general response from the Spanish has been encouraging, and I expect a formal reply to our representations in the near future. We will study that reply carefully.

Mr. Duncan Smith

Will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that we will resist all the pressure from a number of our more federally minded European partners to make all borders come down and to have one immigration policy? Does he think that it is a mockery for a political party that espouses being tough on borders and tough on immigration policy then to agree quietly to get rid of all our immigration policies by having a pan-European one, as is happening with the Labour party?

Mr. Rifkind

Yes, there is a particular problem for those who say that they do not believe in any permanent opt-outs. The United Kingdom has opted out of controls such as the Schengen policy. If one believes that opt-outs are purely temporary, it is simply a question of when one abandons frontier controls—not a question of the principle. So far as the Government are concerned, these frontier controls are permanent and will not be removed.