Commonwealth Countries and Overseas Territories: European Union Debate

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Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Commonwealth Countries and Overseas Territories: European Union

Lord Wigley Excerpts
Tuesday 14th June 2016

(7 years, 11 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Wigley Portrait Lord Wigley (PC)
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My Lords—

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Baroness Anelay of St Johns Portrait Baroness Anelay of St Johns
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My Lords, if the UK were to vote to leave the European Union that should not have a direct impact on the way in which applications from other countries outside the EU would be taken into account. Our current controls would continue to apply.

Lord Wigley Portrait Lord Wigley
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My Lords, is it not patently clear that, from the point of view of trade and of people coming over here to work, it is in the interests of Commonwealth countries to have direct access to the senior member of the Commonwealth as part of the European Union? It is in the interests of the Commonwealth itself that we remain part of the European Union.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns Portrait Baroness Anelay of St Johns
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My Lords, that is indeed the point which has been made by the leaders of all the Commonwealth countries.