Written question asked by Andrew Mackinlay (Labour) on Thursday, 12 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 December 2002. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 December 2002 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to lift the visa requirement for visitors from Slovakia in advance of EU accession.

Answer: Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to lift the visa requirement for visitors from Slovakia in advance of EU accession. [87315] Beverley Hughes: Visa regimes are maintained only where they contribute to effective immigration control. The visa regime has proved effective in reducing the numbers of inadmissible passengers travelling to the UK from Slovakia. Following Slovakia's accession to the EU in 2004, all categories of Slovak nationals will enjoy rights of free movement and will not require a visa to come to the UK. In the meantime, the visa regime on Slovak nationals, as with all visa regimes, will be kept under review and will be lifted when we consider that the threat to our immigration control is at an acceptable level.

Secondary information