Oral Answers to Questions

Brendan O'Hara Excerpts

Monday 6th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

6. If she will make it her policy for non-UK EU citizens resident in the UK to retain full residency rights after the UK has left the EU.

[Brendan O’Hara (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)]

10. If she will make it her policy for non-UK EU citizens resident in the UK to retain full residency rights after the UK has left the EU.

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Amber Rudd)]

The Prime Minister has made it clear that one of her 12 negotiating priorities is to secure the status of EU nationals already living in the UK as soon as possible, once formal negotiations have begun. She has also made it clear that she seeks a deal based on reciprocity, which also secures the status of UK nationals living elsewhere in the EU.

[Amber Rudd]

I will of course read the report with the respect and interest that it deserves. Nevertheless, I feel that reciprocity is an important part of securing the position not only of the EU nationals, who add such value to our economy and are so welcome here, but the UK citizens who live their lives abroad in the EU.

[Brendan O’Hara]

This weekend, Rita Windham-Wright, a Hungarian national living in Oban told me that she and her family were considering leaving Scotland, Celia Krezdorn from Helensburgh, a Swiss national married to a German, whose children are Scottish, told me they have no idea what the future holds for them, and Jean Michel Voinot from Lochgilphead asked whether his family will be able to hold together. Given that the Exiting the European Union Committee said it would be “unconscionable” if such people were to be denied clarity about their future, how do the Government intend to—