§ Lord Tebbitasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether European law in any way restricts or impinges upon the Home Secretary's responsibilities for internal security in the United Kingdom.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)Matters concerned with the internal security of the State or with public order and law enforcement generally fall outside the EC Treaty. The Treaty has from the outset provided for the free movement of goods and persons within the member states but permits member states to impose limitations justified for reasons of, among other things, public security.
The co-operation which member states undertake under the Justice and Home Affairs Pillar of the Treaty on European Union does not give rise to European Community law and, as Article K2 specifically states, does not affect the exercise of the responsibilities incumbent upon member states with regard to the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security.