§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has418W made of the extra costs arising after the introduction of a common system of visa requirements by the European Union; and what action he has taken so far in respect of this estimate. [4489]
§ Mr. HanleyThe estimated cost of implementing council Regulation (EC) No 2317/95—the EU common visa list—is between £3,090,0900 and £3,390,000 in the start-up year. The estimated continued annual running cost is £1,740,000 at current prices. The funding will be found from within existing provision.
Common visa list-related entry clearance work will be subject to the FCO commitment to achieve full cost recovery in financial year 1996–97 in the case of non-settlement work and financial year 1997–98 for settlement work. These recoveries are remitted to the Consolidated Fund and are of no direct benefit, therefore, to the FCO.
The cost of implementing Council Regulation (EC) No. 1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas cannot yet be quantified.