§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Lord Privy Seal on what authority the Foreign Affairs Council determined on 16–17 March 1981 that member States should introduce new passports in the common European Community format by 1985.
§ Sir Ian GilmourAt the Council on 16–17 March Foreign Affairs Ministers agreed certain details of how we might implement the decision in principle taken in 1974 by the right hon. Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) and other European Community Heads of Government that there should be a common format for the passports of European Community member States. These details included a formula by which member States would endeavour to introduce the new European Community format passport by 1 January 1985. However, it was accepted that member States could introduce the common format at a later date if that was necessary for technical reasons. The issue of passports is and remains a national prerogative. The agreement reached by member States will be embodied in a resolution of the member States of the Community acting in concert.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will set out the legal authority under which he intends to produce new passports in the common European Community format in 1985; and if the change of format will require a new item of British legislation or a new regulation.
§ Sir Ian GilmourI have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North, (Mr. Marlow) on 26 March.—[Vol. 1, c.384.]