Oral Answers to Questions Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateGordon Banks
Main Page: Gordon Banks (Labour - Ochil and South Perthshire)Department Debates - View all Gordon Banks's debates with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(12 years ago)
Commons Chamber5. What recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on protecting the integrity of the single market.
I regularly discuss the single market with my counterparts both at bilateral meetings and in formal sessions of the Council.
With the Prime Minister increasingly marginalised and nobody believing a word that comes out of the Scottish First Minister’s mouth, what can the Minister do to protect the £9.7 billion of exports from Scotland to the EU, and to ensure that there is a credible single market in future?
I fear that the hon. Gentleman wrote his question before he saw the outcome of the European Council at the end of last month. Given the emphasis he places on trade, I am sure he will have warmly welcomed our Prime Minister’s intervention to secure the free trade agreement between the EU and South Korea, which is already delivering opportunities for British businesses. I am sure he will also welcome the British Government’s strong support for the opening of trade negotiations between Europe and Japan, which was agreed last week.