Published: February 6 2009 02:00 | Last updated: February 6 2009 02:00
From Mr Roland Rudd and others.
Sir, At this time of economic difficulty and real hardship for many people, it is more important than ever to cherish the principle of the free movement of labour in the European Union. This has been called into question by the strikes at the Lindsey oil refinery and elsewhere. The fundamental principle of the European single market is the free movement of goods, capital, services and labour. This means that continental European companies can invest in the UK; such investment generates economic growth and productivity. Similarly it enables UK companies to trade easily and invest in the rest of Europe. It is estimated that the single market is worth £20bn annually to the UK.