HL Deb 06 July 1977 vol 385 cc339-41

2.37 p.m.

Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can confirm that they have no intention of allowing the United Kingdom passport to be replaced by an EEC passport.

The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

My Lords, I can give such confirmation. Proposals regarding a European uniform passport are not for an EEC passport but for uniformity of style of the national passports of Member States. The United Kingdom version will continue to be our national passport.

Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEY

My Lords, I should like to thank the Minister for that very encouraging and assuring reply. Would he perhaps consider the line that the Bank Credit System has taken, which is apparently to endorse credit cards with an EEC background availability, as it were, should this matter ever come up? It seems to me a very good solution, because I am sure the Minister appreciates that we value our United Kingdom passports very highly.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I repeat that we value the national character of the passport which will be identifiable as one of nine which defer to membership of the Community. As to the suggestion of the noble Baroness, most certainly we shall bear that in mind.

The Earl of KIMBERLEY

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether, in the long term, it is the intention of the Nine countries to do away with passports as between their own countries?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, that would be to anticipate discussions which, even within this rather narrow field, are by no means complete. Indeed, I do not expect that the national passport in its new format, which will be in some respects European, will be available in this country for the next two years.

Lord GLADWYN

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Members of the European Parliament, even the present European Parliament, and I believe officials of the Community, get on very well with a form of European passport which is issued, I think, by the Secretary-General of Parliament? Could that system be extended?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I have no doubt that that suggestion—which is based on fact, I agree—has been considered by the Working Committee of the Commission which is considering these matters, and no doubt that committee will pick up tomorrow the repetition of this suggestion from the Official Report of the proceedings of this House.

Lord WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, would the noble Lord agree that, where a Welshman is involved, it would be appropriate to add a dragon to the passport?

The Earl of SELKIRK

My Lords, can such a passport-holder ask for assistance from the Embassy of any one of the European countries if he gets into trouble in a third country?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, we are in continuous consultation with our friends and fellow Members of the Community about this and other at least equally important matters. Indeed, there is a Working Party, as I have indicated, on these interesting details. I think I can add to the knowledge of the House by saying that the name of our country, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Royal Arms will, in any case, figure prominently on the cover of the new passport.