European Council

John Bercow Excerpts

Monday 17th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

In terms of the UK, I think that the balance of competences review is a good exercise for looking at all our engagement with Europe and its costs and benefits. Within the European Union, all those issues are addressed and different countries come to different conclusions. We should not be frightened of standing up and saying very clearly what we think is in Britain’s interests.

[Mr Speaker]

I fear that the Annunciator is rather over-excited. I can assume only that it has not yet become accustomed, as I have not, to the spectacle of the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) using an iPad in the Chamber. It is quite a remarkable state of affairs on which he is, of course, to be congratulated.

[Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab)]

I ask the Prime Minister: on actual, tangible economic growth, how is it going?

--- Later in debate ---

[The Prime Minister]

To answer my hon. Friend directly, I have not asked those Governments for an estimate. He is right to say that the transitional controls are coming off and that the previous forecasts were wrong. I will discuss this important issue with the Home Secretary in the months ahead.

[Mr Speaker]

I thank the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and all 58 Back Benchers who questioned the Prime Minister.