European Union Committee
Brexit: UK-EU movement of people

14th Report of Session 2016-17 - published 6 March 2017 - HL Paper 121

Contents

Summary

Chapter 1: Introduction

The purpose and scope of this inquiry

Background

What is free movement?

Table 1: EU Treaty provisions relating to the Four Freedoms

Box 1: The 2004 Citizens Directive

Free movement of persons and the Single Market

Transitional controls on free movement

Patterns of migration

Figure 1: Immigration Flows to the UK by nationality, 1975–2013

Figure 2: Long-term international migration to the UK, 1970–2015

Figure 3: EU immigration to the UK, 2006 to 2016

Figure 4: IPS data by reason of migration for EU and non-EU citizens

Figure 5: Number of UK-born migrants living in other EU member states, 2015 estimates

Figure 6: Age profiles by citizenship, 2011 European Census data, ranked by biggest proportion of 65 years and older

Conclusions

Chapter 2: The UK’s objectives

What is to be achieved by ending free movement?

Sovereignty

Numbers

Characteristics

Constraints

Supporting the UK labour market and economy

Reciprocity

Conclusions

Implications for Brexit negotiations

Conclusions

Chapter 3: Dismantling free movement

Free movement with an emergency brake

Background

Box 2: The EEA Agreement

Witnesses’ views

Free movement with a job offer

Background

Witnesses’ views

Work permits

Background

Figure 7: Work-related visas

Figure 8: Main applicant visas for skilled work

Witnesses’ views

Non-work categories

Access to public funds

Enforcement

Reciprocity

Box 3: EU rules on third-country nationals

Conclusions

Chapter 4: EU migration for low-skilled work

Background

Figure 9: UK nationals, EU nationals, and non-EU nationals in employment by skill level, October 2015 to September 2016

Witnesses’ views

Definitions

Effect of immigration on wages

Effect of reducing migration on wages

How employers might respond

Conclusions

Summary of conclusions and recommendations

Appendix 1: List of Members and declarations of interest

Appendix 2: List of witnesses

Evidence is published online at http://www.parliament.uk/movement-of-people-inquiry and available for inspection at the Parliamentary Archives (020 7129 3074).

Q in footnotes refers to a question in oral evidence.





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