HL Deb 04 June 2003 vol 648 cc169-70WA
Lord Dormand of Easington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have plans to make any new ministerial authorisations under Section 19D(3)(a) of the Race Relations Act 1976, as amended by the Race Relations Act 1999. [HL3208]

Lord Filkin:

Beverley Hughes has made a new authorisation under section 19D of the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended) to allow a certain proportion of the permits issued under the new sectors based schemes in the hospitality and food processing sectors to be available for issue only to nationals of countries who are due to accede to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

This reflects the Government's commitment to these countries to give greater access to the UK labour markets in the period leading up to the date of their accession to the European Union.

A copy of the new authorisation, which came into force on 30 May, has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.