Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to Article 2 (2) of the draft protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland of the draft agreement on the withdrawal of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union, if he will publish the rights and privileges associated with of the Common Travel Area.

The UK Government is firmly committed to maintaining the Common Travel Area (CTA) and to protecting the rights enjoyed by UK and Irish nationals when in each other’s state. The Commission’s draft Withdrawal Agreement Treaty text builds on December’s Joint report and confirms that the UK and Ireland can continue to work together as part of these arrangements.

The reciprocal rights for UK and Irish nationals associated with the Common Travel Area are described in the UK Government’s August 2017 position paper on Northern Ireland and Ireland, and include:

● the right to enter and reside in each others’ state without being subject to a requirement to obtain permission;

● the right to work without being subject to a requirement to obtain permission;

● the right to study;

● access to social welfare entitlements and benefits;

● access to health services; and

● the right to vote in local and parliamentary elections.