HC Deb 24 May 1979 vol 967 c226W
Mr. David Price

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose within the Council of Ministers of the EEC the total abolition of passports and all other personal travel documents for citizens of the EEC when travelling within the Community.

Sir Ian Gilmour

No. Nationals of EEC countries have freedom of movement within the Community, but of necessity travellers enjoying this freedom of movement must identify themselves and establish that they are entitled to it. Some EEC countries issue national identity cards which serve this purpose but citizens of the United Kingdom must produce either a regular British passport or a British visitor's passport to prove their entitlement.