European Council
Debate between Lord Hamilton of Epsom and Baroness Evans of Bowes Park(7 years, 8 months ago)
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Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
My Lords, as I have said, we anticipate a positive deal between us and the EU. Of course we start negotiations from the unique position of sharing many of the identical rules and regulations, so we are positive and optimistic going into these negotiations.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)
My Lords, did the European Council discuss the deal done with Turkey whereby it would hold on to millions of Syrian refugees in return for accelerated membership of the EU and a payment of €3 billion, not all of which I gather has come through? There certainly does not seem to be any enthusiasm for allowing Turkey into the EU.
Education: Free Schools
Debate between Lord Hamilton of Epsom and Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
As I said, where free schools are underperforming we have been able to take swift and decisive action. No school should be underperforming. All children deserve a high-quality education and that is why, in the very small number of cases where we have seen problems, action has been taken to improve the situation.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)
Does my noble friend not agree that the hostility of the Benches opposite to free schools is somewhat inexplicable, considering that so much of the valuable groundwork on free schools was done by the noble Lord, Lord Adonis, who sits on those Benches?