QUESTION TO THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS - BUSINESS QUESTIONS - 14TH FEBRUARY 2013
Nicholas Soames’ Question to the Leader of the House of Commons - Business Questions - 14th February, 2013
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): Will my right hon. Friend see whether he can find a day for the House to debate the impact of the important news that the United States of America and the European Union are to start formal talks over a new free trade agreement, which would greatly increase trade between us? Will he also confirm that even though this is a pretty dismal time for free trade, with the collapse of the Doha round, our Government believe that free trade is a great and powerful tool for growth?
The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew Lansley): My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Like me and others across the House, I am sure that he was heartened by the conclusions of the European Council and the EU’s determination to seek free trade agreements. Today’s agreement to commence EU-US free trade discussions is only one part of the EU’s ambitious agenda. That is absolutely right. I cannot identify now when time would be available for such a debate, but it would of course be entirely relevant not least to the Budget debate on maintaining the pace of economic recovery.
Hansard
14 February 2013
Vol 558
No 117
Column 1064