§ 28. Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Her Majesty's Government is intending to sign the European Au Pair Convention.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Lane)Not at present; but I shall continue to keep the position under review.
§ Dame Joan VickersHas my hon. Friend considered that I first approached the previous Conservative Government, then the Socialist Government, and now the present Conservative Government about this? This has been going on for 12 years. What does my hon. Friend mean by "soon"? Does he mean the near future?
§ Mr. LaneI did not say "soon". I know my hon. Friend's great interest in this matter. We have genuine doubts whether the formal arrangements provided for in this agreement would in practice provide any effective additional protection for either party in these arrangements. Most of them work well on a voluntary basis and we should want a Jot of convincing that an agreement would improve things. However, I am willing to meet my hon. Friend again and discuss this matter, if she would like that.
§ Sir G. de FreitasAs most of these girls trouble to learn English and French and the problem of protecting them is almost entirely a matter for the British and French Governments, will the Minister work with the French Government and discuss how these girls can be protected, and not constantly delay until the convention is accepted?
§ Mr. LaneThere is no delaying about it. If it would help to have discussions with the French Government, we certainly shall, but in the vast majority of cases the arrangements work very well on an informal basis and we do not want to upset this without very good reason.