§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Her Majesty's Government agreed to admit EC nationals to the United Kingdom by means of identity cards; what was the legislative basis for such a decision; and if he will make a statement. [34425]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerOn the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community in 1972, the United Kingdom Government were required to comply with existing Community law allowing nationals of the Community to enter the territory of other member states simply on production of a valid national identity card or passport. Previous arrangements for admission on production of identity cards were governed by agreements with the countries concerned.
Since 1 January 1994 the same right has been extended to non-European Union nationals of the European economic area—currently, Norway, Ireland, and Liechtenstein—in accordance with the provisions of the European Economic Area agreement which was ratified
816W
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 13 July 1995]: The information requested is given in the table:
by the United Kingdom in November 1993 following enactment of the European Economic Area Act 1993.
The right of European economic area nationals to enter the United Kingdom on this basis was implemented administratively prior to formal incorporation in United Kingdom law by the Immigration (European Economic Area) Order 1994.