European Council Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Robathan
Main Page: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Robathan's debates with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(8 years, 8 months ago)
Lords ChamberThe noble Lord is right to say that discussions on a matter as important—a once-in-a-lifetime decision—as the position of the United Kingdom in the European Union should be made in a cool, rational and evidence-based way. With regard to in-work benefits, I simply say that taking a look at the DWP’s own figures for March 2013—the latest usable figures in this connection—shows that about 40% of all recent European Economic Area migrants are supported by the UK benefits system.
My Lords, while I hope that we all wish the Prime Minister well in his negotiations—