Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Conservative). It was answered on Tuesday, 15 December 2015.

European Union: Schengen Agreement

Question: My Lords, I am grateful for that Answer. Does my noble friend agree that a Government’s first duty is to protect the security and well-being of their people? Given that the European Union has failed to police both its external and internal borders, is it not the duty of the Prime Minister to regain control of Britain’s borders?

Answer: Of course, my noble friend is absolutely right, and we have control of those borders because, in the Maastricht treaty, as he and I know, Sir John Major managed to negotiate an opt-out from the Schengen area. We retain strong control over our borders, which is quite essential. We look at the situation happening in Europe at present and we are not dispassionate, because the issues and security concerns that we have about Europe ultimately come towards us—so we need to work with our EU partners. We believe that the types of discussion that they are now having about strengthening the external border to the EU is absolutely right and timely.

Secondary information