§ Sir David Steelto ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current negotiations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates on a memorandum of understanding; and what assessment he has made of the effect on these of the imposition of an entry visa requirement upon United Arab Emirate citizens seeking to visit the United Kingdom. [32201]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNegotiations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates on a memorandum of understanding are making good progress. There is no connection with the EU Commission's proposal for a list of third countries, including the UAE, whose nationals would require a visa to enter any EU state.
§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations 123W he has received from Britons resident in the United Arab Emirates about the possible termination by the United Kingdom of the agreement of the waiving of visa requirements for entry to the United Kingdom by nationals of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar; and if he will make a statement on the effect such termination will have on relations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. [32206]
§ Mr BaldryThe chairman of the British Business Group Dubai and Northern Emirates wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 17 June about press reports regarding possible EU regulations affecting UAE nationals visiting Britain.
Under article 100c of the treaty of Rome, the European Commission proposed in December 1993 a draft regulation establishing a list of 126 countries, including the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar, whose nationals would require a visa to enter any EU member state. The United Kingdom has registered its concern at the length of the proposed list. Discussions with the other member states and the Commission are continuing; the United Kingdom's aim is to ensure that the list takes account of current UK visa practice as far as possible.
We have close and excellent relationships with the UAE. We do not anticipate that these would be unduly affected, should the UAE be placed on an EU common visa list.
§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are known to be living in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. [32204]
§ Mr. BaldryThe estimated numbers of British citizens living in the countries in question are as follows:
- United Arab Emirates: 18,500
- Bahrain: 6,330
- Qatar: 3,500
§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations make it impossible to continue into 1996 the reciprocal agreement between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar on abolition of entry visa requirements. [32205]
§ Mr. BaldryI refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier.