To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of recent reports that the Europe Minister told Bulgarian observers in the European Parliament on 15th November that UK restrictions on labour market access for Romanians and Bulgarians might be ended after one year. (101627)

In discussions with Bulgarian (and Romanian) observers at the European Parliament, I made reference to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 24 October 2006, Official Report, columns 82-84WS, which announced transitional arrangements on labour market access in the UK for Romanian and Bulgarian workers. The Home Secretary said that the new arrangements will be reviewed within 12 months and the Government's proposed new Migration Advisory Committee will assist in this process taking account of the needs of our labour market, the impact of the A8 accession and the positions adopted by other EU countries.