Chris Heaton-Harris
Main Page: Chris Heaton-Harris (Conservative - Daventry)Department Debates - View all Chris Heaton-Harris's debates with the HM Treasury
(13 years, 3 months ago)
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Mr Hoban
It is absolutely right that Europe should be competitive and able to compete with companies in north America, Asia and south America in what are becoming increasingly challenging global markets. Europe needs to address its competitiveness, which is why we engaged in the economic taskforce led by Herman van Rompuy. We need to see changes in Europe, and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be pressing for that at the summit.
Chris Heaton-Harris (Daventry) (Con)
The Minister will know that although Portugal has not so far requested any help, it is in a similar situation to Ireland, in that Ireland did not request any help at the very beginning, but was forced to take it later. Yesterday, we voted—essentially—on a treaty change. Will the Minister confirm that, if the change is made in the coming weeks—the Prime Minister having come back to the House—the UK Government will still have a veto to play, or will the veto be played this weekend, meaning that we cannot change anything in the future?
Mr Hoban
I do not know whether my hon. Friend was present for the debate in the House on 16 March when we discussed the ESM, but let me remind him of what my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe said:
“Should there be any suggestion of amending the draft decision at the European Council—there is no such suggestion from any quarter at present—the Prime Minister could not legally agree to it at the European Council without first coming back to this House and the other place for additional approval after a further debate.”—[Official Report, 16 March 2011; Vol. 525, c. 424.]
Of course, there can be no change to the treaty unless primary legislation passes through both this place and the other place.