§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for the common travel area between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland of a decision by the latter to relax border controls along the lines advocated by the European Commission.
§ Mr. Charles WardleWe attach considerable value to the common travel area arrangements, and a decision by the Government of the Irish Republic in the sense suggested in the hon. Member's question would inevitably have unwelcome implications. I do not, however, have any reasons to suppose that such a decision is likely in the absence of a general resolution of the frontiers question within the Community.