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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Hughes and Swinson quiz Cameron on Greece and CO2 emissions
July 2, 2011 11:01 AM
• [Jun 27] Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Liberal Democrat): MAY I join the expressions of condolence to the Prime Minister and the family and friends of Mr Shale?
Is it not right that although it is not the UK's duty to intervene to bail out the Greeks, it is absolutely in the United Kingdom's interest that the European Union and the wider community took decisions to support the economies of Ireland, Portugal and Greece this year to prevent them from collapse? Is not the lesson from the history of those countries over the past year that they should follow the example of this country and take tough measures early to deal with the economic legacy? We should support the three new Governments in those countries as they deal with the failures of the past five years, just as this Government have sought to do.
David Cameron : First, I thank the right hon. Gentleman for what he said about my constituency chairman, Christopher Shale.
The right hon. Gentleman is right that if one is in a debt situation, one has to deal with one's deficit and debts and show a path back to solvency. That is what the Government have done. We have had to take some tough measures to show how we will pay down our deficit and debt and that is what other countries must do, too. The right hon. Gentleman is right that it is in Britain's interest that we should do that and it is also in Britain's interest that there should not be a disorderly outcome to what we are seeing in Europe.
• Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrat): Seventy-two top businesses, including Google, Centrica and Unilever, have made a joint declaration saying: "Moving to a 30% emissions reduction target is a win-win-win for Europe" that will "boost economic growth and create new jobs". Does the Prime Minister agree with those companies, and if so, is there anything he can do to ensure that his MEPs vote accordingly next week?
David Cameron : We do agree with those companies and want Europe to move to that target. We have supported that and put it in our own carbon budget in this country. I think that that is the right way ahead.
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