Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Lord Evans of Rainow(7 years, 9 months ago)
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Mr Hammond
This discussion is still ongoing. I hope we may bring it to a conclusion within, let’s say, the next eight days.
Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Lord Evans of Rainow(9 years, 6 months ago)
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The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Philip Hammond)
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I have already started talking to our counterparts about our agenda for change in Britain’s relationship with the EU. We have set out British concerns with the status quo and the areas where we need to see change.
Graham Evans
The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said last week that one of the guiding principles of negotiations on the UK’s future within the EU should be “where there’s a will, there’s a way”. Does my right hon. Friend agree that this clearly shows a real willingness by our EU partners to work with us on reform and find a flexible solution?
Mr Hammond
We were very heartened by the German Chancellor’s comments. The great majority, perhaps all, of our EU partners want Britain to remain in the European Union. They understand now, because the Prime Minister has set it out to them, what needs to be done to make that a possibility, and we are confident that they will now work with us to achieve that over the coming months.