Oral Answers to Questions

Barry Sheerman Excerpts

Thursday 26th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jones]

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I discussed the issue with several of my European counterparts earlier this week. They fully understand the intelligence strength that Britain brings to the table, and they understand the value that we will be able to bring to the table after we leave the EU.

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

Does the Minister understand that parliamentarians across Europe are deeply worried about the knock-on effect of our leaving the EU on NATO’s stability and future? That is the truth. Forget about what is happening in the United States with the new President; will the Minister assure the House that this country’s commitment to NATO will be redoubled, not diminished?

[Mr Jones]

We are absolutely committed to NATO, and I assure the House that that commitment will continue after Brexit.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Walker]

Wholeheartedly.

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

In response to an earlier question, the Secretary of State said that we needed both flexibility and imagination in tackling these complex negotiations. My manufacturing sector and my university want competence, and they are worried about the competence of the team sitting on that Government Front Bench to carry out the negotiations thoroughly.

[Mr Davis]

I had better deal with this one.

Interestingly, if we look at the response around Europe to the Prime Minister’s speech about competence, we see, for example, that the Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whom I saw only a couple of weeks ago, welcomed it widely and said that we had an eminently achievable aim in everybody’s interests.