§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Czech810W Republic concerning the reasons behind the number of applications in the UK for asylum by Czech nationals; and if he will make a statement. [17417]
§ Peter HainMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had numerous contacts with our Czech counterparts in recent months. I issued a joint statement on 7 August with the Czech Foreign Minister expressing the commitment of both Governments to the highest standard of human rights for all our citizens and our shared concern that substantial numbers of Czech citizens continue to make unfounded asylum applications in the UK. The text of the statement is available on the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk/news/newstext.asp?5215.
While there can be no justification for citizens of a NATO ally and strong EU applicant to seek protection in the UK, the two Governments recognise that the position of the Roma minority is a problem in the Czech Republic. The UK fully supports the efforts of the Czech Government to address this problem.