Summer Recess: Ministerial Cover Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Summer Recess: Ministerial Cover

Lord Dubs Excerpts
Monday 5th September 2011

(13 years, 2 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Strathclyde Portrait Lord Strathclyde
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Yes, my Lords, but I am sure that the whole country was enormously reassured when the Prime Minister returned from holiday, took full control of the unfolding situation and, indeed, recalled Parliament.

Lord Dubs Portrait Lord Dubs
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My Lords, perhaps the Leader of the House will permit me to take a step to one side in my supplementary question. Is it the Government’s policy to encourage European Commissioners that there should always be a European Commissioner on duty in the month of August, or at least someone deputising for him? In my experience some years ago, there was a time in August when there was not a European Commissioner available and it was impossible to get a decision out of Brussels.

Lord Strathclyde Portrait Lord Strathclyde
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I wonder if at that time the European Union was better run with or without a European Commissioner on duty.