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European Union (Accessions) Bill

I thank colleagues from all parties who have made helpful and welcome comments about clause 2. It is encouraging that there is such broadly-based support for the measures that we want to introduce. I shall deal with the detail of the amendment and make some general points about the clause. Let me briefly comment on the contribution of my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs. Ellman) on clause 1. She made a powerful speech, the force of which will carry further than the House and especially to anyone who is watching our proceedings. As a dedicated Everton supporter, I emphasise that rivalries are put aside in such cases. She knows that the solidarity between football supporters in our city runs deep and our thoughts are with her. She will have the solidarity of football supporters everywhere and I wish her well in her campaign. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary leads on such matters. Through me, he would like to reiterate the offer of a further meeting with her and the family to ascertain whether we can make some progress. Clause 2 is consistent with the Government’s managed migration agenda, which makes decisions on the UK’s labour market dependent on the number and type of gaps that exist. The clause provides enabling powers, which will allow the Government to set the terms on which any access will be granted to Bulgarian and Romanian workers after accession during a transition period. That can range from maintaining a form of the current work permit arrangements to full, free access to the market, including a version of the worker registration scheme that is in place for nationals of the eight accession countries. A decision will be made closer to the accession date. I listened to the remarks of the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) but I hope that he understands that it is right to make the decision when we know more about the date of accession for the two countries. We would also like to take other considerations into account, such as the state of the domestic labour market and other member states’ decisions about access to their labour markets. Of course, all member states have to go through the same process as us. We will also take account of further analysis of our experience with the first round of accessions.