Mr.
Davey: It is good to know that the Government want to help
our overseas territories, such as Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos
Islands and so on. However, I still return to the fundamental question:
will British overseas territories in the region liberalise far faster
than their regional
neighbours?
Mr.
Thomas: As I have explained, the overseas territories are
part of the EU, so the tariffs have been liberalised already. The deals
done with the rest of the Caribbean will not come as a surprise to the
likes of Montserrat and other islands. I do not think that our overseas
territories in the Caribbean feel that they will dramatically lose out
as a result of the EPA being signed. In general, the agreement is
welcomed in the Caribbean. Caribbean countries fought extremely hard
for a series of provisions to be put into it. I remember negotiations
going down to the wire in which they pressed Britain for progress, and
they believe that they got a very good
deal.
Mr.
Clifton-Brown: I congratulate the Minister on his
knowledge of the subject and on the way in which he has put it across.
He has done an extremely good job. May I ask him a completely different
question? This is not a googly intended to catch him out; if he cannot
give me an answer, I should be grateful if he wrote to me. The
explanatory memorandum
states: “The
Agreement includes provisions on Mode IV services which allow for the
temporary movement of natural persons. This includes commitments to
allow professional employees of CARIFORUM firms not established in
Europe or contractual service suppliers to enter the EU to supply
services for up to 6 months in 29 specified service
sectors.” That
will obviously put some pressure on our visa sector. Will he give us
some indication of how many people are likely to come to the EU? What
estimates have been made? Have discussions taken place with the Home
Office? What extra resources will be given to the visa
sector?
Mr.
Thomas: I can give an assurance that discussions were held
with the Home Office and all other Departments when we determined our
negotiating position with the Commission and other colleagues. I cannot
give the hon. Gentleman the estimate off the top of my head, but I
shall see whether we have one and write to him. I shall also put a copy
of the letter in the
Library. Question
put and agreed to.
Resolved, That
the Committee has considered the draft European Communities (Definition
of Treaties) (Cariforum Economic Partnership Agreement) Order
2009. 11.13
am Committee
rose.
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