EU: Migration

Debate between Lord Bates and Lord Lea of Crondall

Wednesday 19th November 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any proposal to other European Union member states, either severally or collectively, which would limit (1) the right of United Kingdom citizens to live and work in other European Union member states, or (2) the parallel right of citizens of other European Union member states to live and work in the United Kingdom.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con)]

My Lords, the Government have regularly engaged with other member states on the issue of free movement, the Home Secretary has consistently pressed for action on abuse and the European Council has recognised that this issue needs to be tackled. The Government have also started a debate on reforming the transitional controls for new member states and will engage constructively with other member states in discussion on how best to achieve change in this area.

[Lord Lea of Crondall (Lab)]

I thank the Minister for his reply, which means no. The reason it is no is that it has obviously dawned on the Government, belatedly, that this would require reciprocation by all the rest of the 28 member states.

I have two supplementaries. First, does the Minister agree that there is a broad balance at the moment, not by design but by the facts on the ground, between the number of Brits living over there, in the EU, and the number of Europeans coming here? Roughly 2.2 million gain a living there and there are a few more here. Secondly, is the Minister aware that it is not exceptional to have this arrangement in Britain? Does he agree that, for example, there are far more people from the rest of the EU living in Germany—not least from Greece and Romania—than are living here in Britain?

[Lord Bates]

First, my initial Answer was yes not no. It was that we have been engaging with Europe. The European Commission has endorsed this approach. The noble Lord referred to Germany. The German Government are passing legislation through the Bundestag to restrict the benefits of those who come to Germany when they are not genuinely seeking work. It was tested in the European Court of Justice. These are exactly the types of reforms and reviews which we have been pushing, from our side, and which are getting greater support across the other member states of the European Union.

EU Council

Debate between Lord Bates and Lord Lea of Crondall

Monday 27th October 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lea of Crondall (Lab)]

My Lords, the big peanuts in this—

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con)]

The noble Lord was not here for the beginning of the Statement.

Social Mobility: Public Schools

Debate between Lord Bates and Lord Lea of Crondall

Tuesday 17th December 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the degree to which those educated at public school disproportionately occupy senior positions in both public and private sectors in the United Kingdom; and whether they have plans to reduce any imbalance.

[Lord Bates (Con)]

My Lords, improving social mobility is the principal goal of this Government’s social policy. The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission was established to monitor the progress of government employers, the professions and universities in improving social mobility. Current evidence shows that, while improvements are being made in some areas, there is still much work to be done.

[Lord Lea of Crondall (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, which I think means no. I have two supplementary questions. First, would he not agree with the recent and widely reported observation by Sir John Major to the South Norfolk Conservative Association on 8 November:

“In every sphere of British influence the upper echelons of power in 2013 are held overwhelmingly by the privately educated or the affluent middle class. To me from my background I find that truly shocking”?

Secondly, would he accept that to give tax relief to public schools as charities is also truly shocking? Charities are supposed to be about assistance from the rich to the poor, not from the poor to the rich.

[Lord Bates]

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his question. He quotes Sir John Major; let me offer him a quote from Alan Milburn in November. In responding to criticism about why the previous Government had not done more to advance social mobility under their 13 years in office, he said that it is,

“wrong … to argue this is the consequence of the actions of any one government. Deep-rooted … and flatlining mobility have been decades in the making”.

That is why this Government have introduced the pupil premium, which is targeted at disadvantaged pupils; free childcare; and an increasing number of apprenticeships. As for the noble Lord’s point about charity status, that is for the Charity Commission. Of course, it has to demonstrate that there is a public benefit to that status, and I know that many independent schools take that very seriously and forge many partnerships with schools in the state sector as well.

Finance Bill

Debate between Lord Bates and Lord Lea of Crondall

Monday 26th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bates]

I am quoting from the same rating agencies that rate government debt and sovereign debt around the world. That is what results in the prices of those debts being traded on the international money markets. The noble Lord, Lord Myners, knows better than anyone about the global flows of international finance. The rating levels are crucial to this, as we see when we look at the situation in Ireland. To stretch the small business analogy to its absolute limits, you can say that international confidence in the Government’s resolution to get to grips with the deficit is analogous to what many companies will have—

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

My Lords—

[Lord Bates]

I will just finish this point, if I may. It is analogous to what many companies will find in dealing with their share price. The share price reflects the market’s belief in the Government’s resolution and its confidence in the soundness of the finances. That has a huge impact on the Government’s ability to—

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

I am grateful to the noble Lord for giving way. I do not think he has answered the noble Lord, Lord Skidelsky, or my noble friend Lord Myners. Would it be too much of a caricature to say that if we have to believe in voodoo economics, which is what the markets add up to, the logic of the noble Lord, Lord Skidelsky, and my noble friend Lord Myners is of no matter whatever? Do we just have to worship the voodoo economics of the markets?

[Lord Bates]

I accept these points. All I am saying is that, by arguing the other way, the noble Lord effectively says that there is not the slightest correlation between the ratings of global rating agencies, the level of debt in the economy and the price that we pay for that debt. I find that a more extraordinary position to argue from. I agree that these are contentious matters. What I have tried to set out through my contribution to the debate is that it is a multi-layered and complex subject but, essentially, we need to control costs; introduce simplicity to the system as a mechanism of doing that; increase sales by driving up enterprise; and repair the balance sheet so that the international lenders who are providing the debt have the confidence to continue doing so. I believe that the Government have done that and they have my full support.