Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 76(b) of the White Paper, The future relationship between the UK and the EU, Cm 9593, what the maximum duration of a visa-free visit will be for temporary business activity.

The Government is considering a range of options for the future borders and immigration system, and will set out further details later this year. Free movement will end and we will control immigration in the national interest.The current Immigration Rules allow visitors to come to the UK for up to 6 months in the UK and list the permitted activities which a visitor may do.

Recognising the depth of the UK-EU relationship, the UK will make a sovereign choice to seek reciprocal mobility arrangements with the EU covering visits for short-term business reasons, and specific allowed activities will be part of that discussion.