§ Sir David PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-British subjects will have the right to work and to set up business in the United Kingdom after 1992 as a result of the realisation of the single European market; and how many of these will come from overseas territorities and associated territories of other member states.
§ Mr. Peter LloydEuropean Community law already confers upon nationals of most other member states the right to work or to set up in business in the United Kingdom. By virtue of the transitional provisions in the treaty of accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Communities, nationals of those countries will not enjoy the same rights in Community law to take employment in this country until 1 January 1993. Except for this incidental change the rights of nationals of European Community states to work or to establish themselves in business in another member state will not be affected when the internal market is completed after 1992. Nor will the624W establishment of the single European market itself affect controls on the entry to this country of non-EC nationals who wish to work or set up business here.
It is, of course, possible that improved opportunities for business between Community states after 1992 will increase the mobility of workers in the Community. Although the numbers involved cannot be estimated, in respect of movement either from the member states or from the few overseas and associated territories to which the free movement provisions of the EC treaty apply, increased migration from and to other member states is likely to occur primarily among skilled and professional workers.