asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consideration they have given to removing the need for citizens of the Republic of Macedonia to have a visa when visiting the United Kingdom.

My Lords, the United Kingdom Border Agency undertook a comprehensive review of the United Kingdom's visa regimes in 2007. The results of this review regarding Macedonia were such that the Government have no plans at present to lift the visa requirements for Macedonian citizens.

My Lords, my noble friend will be aware that, when they were citizens of Yugoslavia, Macedonians could come here without visas and, once they join the European Union, they will be able to come here without visas. In the interim, however, there is an anomaly, causing an adverse effect on both trade and tourism. I plead with the Minister to ignore the bureaucrat's brief in front of him, exercise the leadership for which he has become famous and go back to the Home Office and sort this matter out.

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for the accolade, which, given that we are talking about Macedonia, makes me feel somewhat like Alexander. I would never follow a bureaucrat's brief word for word. I have looked at this issue. Whereas when Yugoslavia was a complete nation the rules were different, we have now undertaken this comprehensive review and I am afraid that we do not feel that most of the western Balkan countries meet the requirements for us to allow their citizens to enter this country without visas.

My Lords, when the comprehensive review of the visa regime that the Minister mentioned was undertaken by UKBA, we were looking at imposing visas on citizens of three countries—Brazil, Malaysia and Venezuela—who are currently not subject to our visa regime or, I believe, to visa regimes in the European Union. What was the result of that review? Are we taking part in the European Union review of visa regimes in relation to not only Macedonia but also Ukraine? What steps are being taken to harmonise our visa regime with those of the European Union as a whole?

My Lords, the visa waiver test identified 11 countries on which we propose to introduce new visa regimes, but these were subject to a six-month review, which is ongoing; we will not know the result until 2 January. We have talked to these countries and outlined the issues that we are concerned about: how passports are issued, co-operation on documentation and a whole series of things. We are negotiating with these countries and, if we come to an agreement, we could possibly waive the visa requirement. Of course, we require visas for 110 other countries because we do not believe that they have gone anywhere near meeting those steps and we demand the visa regime to ensure the safety and security of our country.

My Lords, how do Her Majesty's Government justify the present position whereby not only Macedonians but also citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand need a visa to come to this country, whereas Bulgarian and Romanian gangsters are free to come and go as they wish?

My Lords, I like to think that SOCA and various other organisations would bowl out various gangsters. As the noble Lord well knows, Bulgaria and Romania are part of the European Union and we have agreements there. People from member states do not need visas to travel throughout the European Union, which is part of being part of the EU.

My Lords, there is evidence from the last elections in Serbia that the younger elements, who cannot travel on Yugoslav passports as their parents did, are the most nationalistic parts of the population. Does my noble friend agree that, if we are serious about integrating the western Balkans as a whole into the European Union, we must ensure that younger people and people generally are able to travel to prepare themselves for entry, which is in our interests and theirs?

My Lords, the fact that there are visa requirements does not stop youngsters travelling. I agree completely with my noble friend that movement, travel and the ability to visit by youngsters is a very good thing, particularly for those visiting our rather splendid country. It is wonderful for them to be able to see how this nation operates and what happens here. If they take those things back to their country, it is good for us all.

My Lords, does the Minister understand that the difficulty with people coming to this country is that, by and large, they need to be sponsored? Can he say whether the number of employers who are happy to sponsor people to come to work or visit here is sufficient to enable them to do so?

My Lords, I have spotted that the noble Baroness specialises in asking questions to which I do not know the exact answer. As far as I am aware there are, but I hope that I may get back to her in writing. I was told in the briefing that this would not have an impact on visits and things, but I would like to clarify that to be absolutely certain.