Campbell, Bruce, Horwood , Swinson , Smith , Mulholland, Russell and Hughes quiz Cameron on Europe

• [Dec 12] Menzies Campbell (North East Fife, Liberal Democrat): MAY I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his unequivocal statement that our membership of the European Union is vital to our national interests, and express the hope that he may give it some wider currency in his own party? He mentioned both the single market and the eurozone. What practical steps can our Government take now to assist in reaching a solution to the problems of the eurozone and towards enhancing the opportunities provided by the single market, both of which are essential to the economic prosperity of this country?

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David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative): Let me repeat again to the right hon. and learned Gentleman that I do believe that it is in Britain's interest to be in the European Union and to be active, especially on those dossiers where that is in our interest-chief among which is the single market. If we want to see what will make a difference to the single currency and the success of the eurozone, nothing matters more than competitiveness, where Britain should be very active, with others both in the eurozone and outside, to drive forward changes. We are fully committed to keeping up that work.

• . . Malcolm Bruce (Gordon, Liberal Democrat): Given that we are facing the worst financial crisis in living memory, does the Prime Minister agree with me that the UK coalition Government have a policy for dealing with it and that unfortunately the eurozone does not? What we now need, surely, is to work in parallel to ensure that we have outcomes that are not divergent, but deliver a strong pound and a strong euro.

David Cameron : I am very grateful for that question. Of course it is important to recognise in a coalition Government that both sides of that coalition cannot always achieve everything that they want to. However, it is important that we work together, and where we absolutely have agreed is on the importance of a programme of getting our economy back on track. It has been of huge benefit-and will continue to be of benefit to our country-that two parties have put their interests aside to work for the common good.

• . . Martin Horwood (Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat): This morning The New York Times questioned whether this country's interests-or, indeed, the City's interests-were not at greater risk, following this weekend's events. Looking forward, what positive reassurance can the Prime Minister give to potential foreign investors that we will remain at the heart of European economic decision making?

David Cameron : International investors know that Britain has the advantage of being a member of the single market, but outside the eurozone and the euro. I would say to the hon. Gentleman that the greatest risk for Britain would be to go into a treaty, including a new treaty of the 17 at the EU level, that did not safeguard our interests. Of course I would rather that our protocol had been accepted and that those protections and safeguards had been put in place; they were not, so the greater danger would have been to go ahead with a treaty without those safeguards.

• . . Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrat): Against the odds, an excellent deal on climate change was agreed in Durban this weekend, with the UK playing a leading role alongside our EU counterparts. Would the Prime Minister reflect on whether such constructive and positive diplomacy might be a better approach to securing British interests than rushing for the exit?

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David Cameron : I certainly agree that the Durban outcome is worth while and it is a staging post towards another global deal, which is very worth while. I am afraid I do not see any contradiction between being incredibly positive and constructive and having a bottom line. When you have a bottom line, it is quite important that you stick to it.

• . . Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Liberal Democrat): In Aberdeen in the north-east of Scotland and in Norway, there is considerable concern that the draft regulations on offshore drilling for oil and gas threaten the gold safety standard achieved in the North sea. Will what happened last week make it easier or more difficult to get the qualified minority necessary to make sure that those regulations are withdrawn and a directive is used as a means of implementing them?

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David Cameron : I do not think what happened last week will have any impact on that decision because these are issues that are dealt with properly in the single market, and an organisation set up outside the EU cannot cut across existing treaties or existing legislation. We should work very hard to make sure we get a good deal for the North sea.

• . . Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West, Liberal Democrat): The Prime Minister was negotiating as the Prime Minister of the coalition Government. Does he agree that now is not the time to listen to either those who say that we should leave the EU, or those who say that we should push into political and fiscal union, and can he tell the British people that he will stick to the coalition policies and get the economy back on its feet?

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David Cameron : I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman and absolutely confirm that that is the case. The coalition is united in wanting to have growth policies across Europe and in promoting the single market in a very active way, and I can guarantee that we will continue to do that.

• . . Bob Russell (Colchester, Liberal Democrat): I bring some grandfatherly advice to the proceedings. I urge the Prime Minister to let the dust settle, keep calm and carry on carefully, but please to abandon the Carlos Tevez approach to Europe. Bridges need to be built, and the first bridge the Prime Minister can build is to get Tory MEPs to rejoin the group of mainstream European conservatives.

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David Cameron : I am very grateful for the grandfatherly advice. I remember the advice that the hon. Gentleman used to give me when we both cycled in to the House of Commons many years ago, so I will take it carefully on board. I will also take away the Carlos Tevez reference and give it a bit of thought.

• . . Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Liberal Democrat): After last week's isolation, can the Prime Minister confirm that he still agrees fully with the words of the coalition agreement that

"Britain should play a leading role" and be "a positive participant in the European Union", and that in that way we will help solve the economic crisis and bring growth and jobs to the United Kingdom?

David Cameron : I completely agree with that. We are members of the European Union, and that membership has not changed, nor have the treaties that govern the single market.

• . . John Bercow (Speaker): I am extremely grateful to the Prime Minister and other colleagues, as 101 Back Benchers had the opportunity to question the Prime Minister in the 88 minutes of exclusively Back Bench time on this statement. I thank colleagues for their co-operation.

• Full Debate in Parliament