During Home Office Questions, Martin asked for the transitional controls preventing Bulgarians and Romanians from free movement to this country, to be extended until 2018.
In response, the Immigration Minister, Mark Harper, informed Martin that the treaties signed by the previous Labour Government on Romanian and Bulgarian accession meant that this would not be possible.
The full exchange can be found below:
Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes, Conservative)
“My constituents are concerned about immigration from Romania and Bulgaria and would like to see the transitional period extended. Public opinion in neighbouring EU states shows that that view is widely shared. Have the Government had discussions with other EU Governments on united action?”
Mark Harper (The Minister for Immigration; Forest of Dean, Conservative)
“It is not possible to extend transitional controls due to the terms of the accession treaties signed by the Labour party when it was in government. Eight other European countries will remove those controls at the end of the year. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has, however, been working with our European colleagues to tighten the rules so that we see a reduction in the abuse of free movement.”