APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE TO REMAIN AND EU ENLARGEMENT

Early day motion 382, tabled 8 January 2004 by Tony Colman (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House notes the imminence of the accession of 10 new countries to the European Union and that the citizens of the accession countries will be entitled to reside and work in the UK as from 1st April; further notes that the Immigration and Nationality Department is still working on appeal bundles in relation to the refusal of applications for further leave to remain to citizens of the accession countries currently working in the UK and that the majority of those appeals are unlikely to be heard before the accession date; condemns the waste of public money on prosecuting these appeals; and calls on the Secretary of State for the Home Department to grant discretionary leave to remain to all such applicants.

Signatures by party: Labour 16, Scottish National Party 4, Liberal Democrat 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Labour/Co-operative 2, Conservative 1.