§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can estimate the number of Roma people who are citizens of the 10 countries which are to accede this year to the European Union; and what proportion of them (a) are eligible; and (b) are expected to move to the United Kingdom. [HL1210]
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§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalEurope's Roma population is estimated at between 7 million and 9 million. Nearly 80 per cent of these Roma live in European Union accession countries.
Current member states, including the UK, cannot discriminate against any new member state or citizens of a specific accession state. Under the Accession Treaty nationals from all of the 10 new member states joining the EU on 1 May will have the right to travel freely across the European Union allowing them to visit, live and study in any other member state.
While predictions are extremely difficult to make, Home Office commissioned research looked at a number of independent studies into migration flows into the UK after enlargement and concluded that there will not be a massive increase from current levels.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What preparations they have made to receive Roma people who may arrive in the United Kingdom during 2004 from the 10 countries which will accede to the European Union; and [HL1211]
Whether they have made any estimate of, or provision for, the financial costs of receiving and caring for Roma people who may arrive in the United Kingdom during 2004–05 from the 10 countries acceding to the European Union. [HL1212]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalOur policies on this matter make no distinction between Roma and others. We have made very clear that people from the accession countries should not travel to this country in the expectation of being able to claim benefits, and we will announce shortly the legal changes we will be making to give effect to this.