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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Swinson and Hames quiz Cameron on Libya
March 6, 2011 10:47 AM
• [Feb 28] Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrat): THE Prime Minister is right to praise the bravery of UK forces and staff in evacuating UK citizens. However, many international companies have lucrative business operations in Libya, working in high-risk environments such as desert oilfields in a country with an oppressive regime. Is he satisfied that those companies have adequate emergency evacuation plans in place, or does business also need to learn some lessons about the safeguarding of employees?
David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, (Conservative): The hon. Lady makes an extremely good point. We should be having this conversation with oil companies. Yes, of course, they have security and transport arrangements, and it is important to work with them when we are trying to get our people out, to ensure that they are playing their part in delivering that. I am sure that there are lessons to learn, and there is probably more that they could have done, rather than being quite so reliant on us.
. . • Duncan Hames (Chippenham, Liberal Democrat): It has been good to hear more muscular liberalism this afternoon. The Prime Minister rightly called Gaddafi's rule an illegitimate regime that has lost the consent of its people. When does he consider that it was last anything other than that?
David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, (Conservative): I have never supported Colonel Gaddafi or his regime, and I think that his regime is illegitimate. Clearly that prompts the question of how long we are going to go on recognising it in any way, which is why I have requested another urgently needed piece of work. We must ensure that we do everything that we can to isolate it. We must cut off money, cut off supply and cut off oxygen from the regime, so that it falls as fast as it possibly can.
• . . John Bercow (Speaker)
I must thank the Prime Minister and all colleagues, whose succinctness meant that no fewer than 53 Back Benchers were able to be called to ask questions on the statement. I am very grateful to colleagues.
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