Thank you for your letter of 25 April 2007[139] on the above Proposal. Your letter was considered by Sub-Committee G at its meeting of 17 May 2007.

  We are encouraged by your response on child-raising but we are far from clear what has actually been agreed. We would therefore be grateful if you could send us a copy of the text of the article that you have successfully negotiated.

  Your confirmation that the provisions for self-employed people are identical to that of employed persons and are effective in practice is welcome.

  We note with some concern, however, your comments with regard to potential inconsistencies between the Social Security Regulations and the forthcoming Cross-Border Health Services legislative instrument. As you may be aware, the Committee has taken a strong interest in the evolving debate over patient mobility. We support the Government's aim of achieving consistency and coherence on the issue of patient mobility within the EU and we would be grateful if you could keep us abreast of developments with particular regard to this aspect of the Proposal.

  In the meantime, we shall maintain the Proposal under scrutiny.

17 May 2007