Sub-Committee F (Social Affairs, Education and Home Affairs) of the Select Committee on the European Union considered these documents at a meeting on 15 October.

  We thought that they contained a useful analysis of the many elements that are needed to contribute to tackling the important challenges presented by the need to promote more effective integration of immigrants and are happy to endorse their general approach. Several of the main proposals are in line with recommendations that this Committee has made in recent reports—including improved labour mobility, the need for a common comprehensive approach, and the need for immigration policy to be shaped by labour market needs. Our main reservation is that the documents probably understate the difficulties involved in promoting integration, particularly in the context of a more proactive and positive approach to immigration.

  While we recognise that the Communication is essentially a position paper rather than a set of specific legislative proposals, given the importance of the subject we were disappointed not to find a more considered analysis of the policy implications in your Explanatory Memorandum, especially in view of your claim that "the thinking in the Communication gives the impression of having been heavily influenced by developments in the United Kingdom".

  We have cleared the documents from scrutiny, but we would be interested to know the evidence on which this claim was made, given the relatively few references to the UK in the "synthesis report" on national integration policies.

15 October 2003

  Thank you for your letter of 15 October following the meeting of Sub-Committee F of the Select Committee on the European Union. I am pleased to know that the documents have been cleared. You have asked for clarification on the reasons for thinking that the Communication gives the impression of having been heavily influenced by developments in the UK.

  Much of the Communication's content derives from meetings of the EU Commission, National Integration Contact Points Group (NICPG). As part of this group's work, a number of questionnaires were circulated to Member States for information about existing policies on integration. The synthesis document rehearsed answers contained in these questionnaires. Those submitted by the UK included details of our policies, with specific reference to the introduction of Language and Citizenship tests for those seeking naturalisation.

  The Communication was discussed and debated by this group, with full UK participation, on a number of occasions and the general approach agreed. Particular issues which the UK pressed for included attention to the involvement of the receiving society in integration measures.

  The UK also advocates an incremental approach to integration, involving people in activities such as language development at the earliest possible stage, and this approach is endorsed in the Communication. We were also successful in ensuring that the section on naturalisation requirements is consistent with the provisions of Part 1 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

  You will also see from paragraph 4.11 of the Communication that the UK has taken the lead on Indicators of Social Cohesion. As part of this the UK hopes to host a conference in June/July 2004 on "the use of indicators in the field of integration policy development". The UK will also participate and assist with seminars hosted by Portugal ("Introduction of Newcomers") and Denmark (Political, Social and Civic Participation"). These seminars are mentioned in paragraph 4.10 of the Communication.

29 October 2003

  Thank you for your letter of 29 October about this Communication, which Sub-Committee F (Social Affairs, Edcuation and Home Affairs) of the Select Committee on the European Union considered at a meeting on 12 November.

  We were grateful for the examples you gave of areas where the Communication reflected the United Kingdom's approach and hope that the UK will continue to play a leading role in this important area of policy development.

13 November 2003