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3.4 Deputy C.F. Labey of Grouville of the Chief Minister regarding the extension of "grandfathered" rights to European Union nationals living in the Island:
When will "grandfathered" rights be given to European Union nationals living in the Island, as the Chief Minister announced post-Brexit, and under what criteria?
Senator I.J. Gorst (The Chief Minister):
As I mentioned in my statement on 28th June, there will be no change in the formal relationship between Jersey and the E.U. (European Union) as set out in Protocol 3 before the U.K. leaves the E.U. In the meantime, the rights of E.U. citizens to live and work in Jersey will be unaffected. Discussions on the terms of the U.K.'s future immigration arrangements with the E.U. will not formally start until after the U.K. has triggered Article 50. We are, however, closely involved with the U.K. Government, and in particular the Home Office, on immigration and related matters such as the common travel area. The Government's position, however, is clear. We want those who have contributed to Jersey and made Jersey their home to stay. The process will take some time, immigration involves the U.K. and we will be part of the discussions with the E.U. but I want to reassure E.U. citizens in Jersey that they remain welcome here.
- The Deputy of Grouville :
Supplementary. Is the Chief Minister aware that since the Brexit vote and his announcement about grandfathered rights there has been a marked increase in E.U. nationals arriving in the Island usually by boat with their families and more than a weekend's worth of luggage?
Senator I.J. Gorst :
We know that we have ebbs and flows of E.U. nationals coming to our Island during the course of the year. One would expect in the summer months for there to be increased levels. If those levels are out of kilter with previous years of a similar time then we will certainly review that. Of course, this was always, right across the British Isles, who would be affected potentially by the Brexit decision, a possibility. But I shall check with the border control officials and with those who analyse such figures to give the Deputy some certainty.
- The Deputy of Grouville :
Does the Chief Minister have a means of measuring the numbers, firstly, and does he not appreciate that the sooner we work to a given point in time that will give people a certainty he is shaking his head but I believe it would give people certainty, so perhaps he would like to comment on that?
Senator I.J. Gorst :
I think the Deputy knows that the U.K. must trigger Article 50 before they can start their negotiation. But the groups considering what it is that the United Kingdom may wish to negotiate for, one of them that we are involved with and our officials are involved with is this very issue. But there will be no certainty, I would suspect, until much further down this process. There are some challenges around the common travel area, for example, there are some challenges about whether the United Kingdom wants to be in the single market and whether there will be a quid pro quo for free movement of people. All of those issues will form part of the negotiation. We do not yet know even when the United Kingdom will trigger Article 50, so the certainty is that our relationship, nor has the United Kingdom's relationship, yet changed with the E.U. and therefore E.U. nationals can remain here on the same basis as they did prior to the vote.
The Deputy Bailiff :
That was the finally supplementary, Deputy . The Deputy of Grouville :
Yes, but he did not answer the first part of my question. I asked if he has a means of measuring numbers entering the Island.
The Deputy Bailiff :
Then it is the fact that if the Chief Minister did not answer it, he did not answer it. His answers must be a matter for him, Deputy .