Counterfeit Travel Documents

HC Deb 19 October 1999 vol 336 c440W

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards the Commission's comments (8505/99 ADD.1) on the proposal for a Council decision on the improved exchange of information to control counterfeit travel documents. [94318]

Mrs. Roche

The Government supported the adoption of this Council decision which was subject to agreement by unanimity. Nevertheless, it recognises that this measure can be seen both as a police co-operation measure and as a measure to combat illegal immigration and has noted the Commission's statement in that context. The final arbiter of the correct legal base for this measure would be the European Court of Justice; it is open to any interested party to bring such a matter before the Court for such a ruling.

The Government consider that, irrespective of whether the fifth recital of this Decision is redundant, it cannot as a Third Pillar measure affect the respective competencies of the Community and its member states.