EU: European Justice and Home Affairs Powers

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Excerpts

Monday 15th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

My Lords, I know many noble Lords wish to speak on this. Perhaps we can take the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, and then come across proportionately to the other Benches.

[Baroness Hamwee]

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that it is fundamental to the EU that there is freedom of movement and, that being so, that we need the tools to deal with negative consequences, when there are negative consequences? If that is so, will he give the House an assurance that the Government’s decisions will be based on evidence and informed opinion—of which there is quite a lot—because the Statement is not neutral? Does my noble friend further agree that playing hard to get is not always the best way to progress a relationship?

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Bowness]

My Lords—

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

My Lords, if we take the Labour Benches and then we will move back to the Cross Benches and the government Benches.

[Lord Wood of Anfield]

My Lords, in the event that we opt out and then persuade 26 other EU countries of the importance of us opting back in on an individual item, would the act of opting back in trigger a referendum under the Government’s own legislation?