Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

David Nuttall Excerpts
Wednesday 4th March 2015

(9 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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I am happy to point to the survey by the British Chambers of Commerce which showed that 77% of businesses support a referendum on EU membership, and said:

“British businesses remain determined to see a recalibrated relationship between the UK and the rest of the European Union, with more powers exercised from Westminster rather than Brussels.”

I hope that the hon. Lady supports that comment from the British Chambers of Commerce.

David Nuttall Portrait Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con)
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Does the Minister agree that businesses do not always speak with one voice on this issue? While big businesses are often the most able to cope with the bureaucracy sent to us from Brussels and might want to stay within the European Union, very often small businesses do not?

Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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My hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. Many of the people who are scaremongering now are the same people who wanted to join the euro all those years ago. It is this party that stands up for the British economy and stands up for businesses, exactly as the British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI and Airbus say in the quotes I have given.