Lords statement on the European Council held in Brussels on 13 and 14 March 2008.

Lords statement on the European Council held in Brussels on 13 and 14 March 2008.

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement made in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister. The Statement is as follows: ““With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a Statement about the European Council held in Brussels that...

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement made in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister. The Statement is as follows: ““With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a Statement about the European Council held in Brussels that...

My Lords, I am looking forward to a free copy of the noble Lord’s book, which he has so successfully—I have got to buy it?

My Lords, I am looking forward to a free copy of the noble Lord’s book, which he has so successfully—I have got to buy it?

My Lords, the noble Baroness can afford it.

My Lords, the noble Baroness can afford it.

My Lords, that is an interesting idea. I look forward to seeing it in any event. Perhaps I shall borrow it from the Library. I shall not give a one-word answer, and I shall explain why. We want to see energy prices that people can afford and high-quality energy provided...

My Lords, that is an interesting idea. I look forward to seeing it in any event. Perhaps I shall borrow it from the Library. I shall not give a one-word answer, and I shall explain why. We want to see energy prices that people can afford and high-quality energy provided...

My Lords, the noble Lord will readily admit that a couple of years ago the Liberal Democrats were saying that there should be a referendum, so they were not against referendums in principle.

My Lords, the noble Lord will readily admit that a couple of years ago the Liberal Democrats were saying that there should be a referendum, so they were not against referendums in principle.

My Lords, on 1 April, probably the best day of the year to have such a debate, I will explain in full and take the noble Lord step by step through Liberal Democrat thinking on this matter. I am glad that he mentioned the Flat Earth Society. I am sure...

My Lords, on 1 April, probably the best day of the year to have such a debate, I will explain in full and take the noble Lord step by step through Liberal Democrat thinking on this matter. I am glad that he mentioned the Flat Earth Society. I am sure...

My Lords, I begin where the noble Lord, Lord McNally, left off. What was so important about this particular Council was that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister was fulfilling his commitment to move European debate on from institutional change—which, when we ratify the treaty, will be complete—into a...

My Lords, I begin where the noble Lord, Lord McNally, left off. What was so important about this particular Council was that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister was fulfilling his commitment to move European debate on from institutional change—which, when we ratify the treaty, will be complete—into a...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord McNally, is right that we do not need to worry about global warming. He will see why if he reads the book that I have written, which comes out in about three weeks’ time; I hope that with his characteristic open-mindedness he will read...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord McNally, is right that we do not need to worry about global warming. He will see why if he reads the book that I have written, which comes out in about three weeks’ time; I hope that with his characteristic open-mindedness he will read...

Oh!

Oh!

My Lords, it was a good joke. On the Statement, there were some welcome initiatives at the summit conclusions, or at least some warm words, if ““warm”” is a word that can ever be applied to the turgid prose of these communiqués. It was good, for example, to see further...

My Lords, it was a good joke. On the Statement, there were some welcome initiatives at the summit conclusions, or at least some warm words, if ““warm”” is a word that can ever be applied to the turgid prose of these communiqués. It was good, for example, to see further...

My Lords, it is becoming an increasing pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, on these Statements because he meanders around looking for a belt to hit below, he always has a few good jokes, and he always ends up with an attack on the Liberal Democrats, which makes...

My Lords, it is becoming an increasing pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, on these Statements because he meanders around looking for a belt to hit below, he always has a few good jokes, and he always ends up with an attack on the Liberal Democrats, which makes...

My Lords, I begin by thanking the Leader of the House for repeating the Statement. I do hope that, unlike at the treaty signing ceremony, the Prime Minister on this occasion managed to get there on time.

My Lords, I begin by thanking the Leader of the House for repeating the Statement. I do hope that, unlike at the treaty signing ceremony, the Prime Minister on this occasion managed to get there on time.

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. Indeed, I will be surprised if Dutch Ministers do not make that very point. It will be of interest to see how far the Commission can produce ideas and proposals in the context of considering better regulation across Europe, which again...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. Indeed, I will be surprised if Dutch Ministers do not make that very point. It will be of interest to see how far the Commission can produce ideas and proposals in the context of considering better regulation across Europe, which again...

My Lords, will the noble Baroness explain a couple of points in the communiqué? Like other noble Lords, I scan these communiqués avidly for evidence of added value from Europe, but I struggle to understand the conclusion on page 3 that the European Council recognises the role of local and...

My Lords, will the noble Baroness explain a couple of points in the communiqué? Like other noble Lords, I scan these communiqués avidly for evidence of added value from Europe, but I struggle to understand the conclusion on page 3 that the European Council recognises the role of local and...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. On his first point, I say at the risk of us becoming a little anoraky and for those who do not have the conclusions in front of them that I understand from page 3, which is about the delivery of growth...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. On his first point, I say at the risk of us becoming a little anoraky and for those who do not have the conclusions in front of them that I understand from page 3, which is about the delivery of growth...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her responses on the questions that have been raised so far. It is encouraging to hear that small business will be addressed following the recent discussions. I draw attention to the example of the Netherlands, where the impact assessment of regulations and...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her responses on the questions that have been raised so far. It is encouraging to hear that small business will be addressed following the recent discussions. I draw attention to the example of the Netherlands, where the impact assessment of regulations and...