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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 07 Jul 2016
Brexit: Case for a Second Referendum

"Honestly, I have only three minutes; it is ever so difficult.

I sat through the whole Committee stage of the referendum Bill. The referendum was supported by the Conservative Front Bench, by the Liberal Democrat Front Bench, by my Front Bench, by the Green Party, by the Scottish National Party …..."
Lord Grocott - View Speech

View all Lord Grocott (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Brexit: Case for a Second Referendum
Written Question
EU Enlargement
Wednesday 27th April 2016

Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 7 March (HL6442), whether they support the application to join the EU of (1) Turkey, (2) Macedonia, (3) Montenegro, (4) Albania, and (5) Serbia.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We support all five countries' aspiration to join the EU as an important means to drive reform. Turkey’s accession process remains the most effective mechanism to support continuing reform in Turkey. In the Western Balkans, the prospect of EU membership is helping to build stability and promote cooperation on issues that matter to the UK, including organised crime and illegal migration. The strict conditionality of the enlargement process means that it takes many years for a country to complete accession negotiations, undertake reforms and achieve the progress needed to meet EU membership criteria. Any decision to enlarge the EU requires the unanimous agreement of the governments of all existing Member States and ratification in accordance with each country’s constitutional arrangements. In the case of the UK, under the European Union Act 2011 ratification cannot take place without an Act of Parliament to approve the new accession. We can therefore ensure that our requirements are respected in any future EU enlargement. The UK will insist that controls on free movement cannot be lifted until accession countries’ economies have converged much more closely with existing Member States.

Written Question
EU Enlargement
Monday 7th March 2016

Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which countries have expressed an interest in applying for membership of the EU.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) states that any European State which respects its values and is committed to promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union. The Council currently recognises five candidates for EU membership: Turkey, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Serbia. Turkey, Montenegro and Serbia have started accession negotiations. Albania and Macedonia have Candidate Status but have not started accession negotiations. Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted its membership application on 15 February 2016. The General Affairs Council will revert to Bosnia and Herzegovina's application once it deems that sufficient progress in the implementation of the Reform Agenda has been achieved. Kosovo is recognised as a potential candidate and has signed and concluded a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. Iceland started negotiations in 2013, but last year requested that it no longer be considered a candidate country.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 02 Feb 2016
European Union

"As these negotiations continue seemingly interminably towards a conclusion we all know—the Prime Minister declaring that he has achieved a triumph in his renegotiations and will be recommending a “remain” vote—is not one thing obvious to any neutral observer? It really is bizarre that the leader of a sovereign state—our …..."
Lord Grocott - View Speech

View all Lord Grocott (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: European Union
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 01 Feb 2016
Palestine

"My Lords, we all like the language of a negotiated solution, and sooner or later that is what must happen. But does the Minister agree that there is an increasingly uncomfortable comparison between the way in which the international community responds when Russia is involved in breaches of international law …..."
Lord Grocott - View Speech

View all Lord Grocott (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Palestine
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 23 Nov 2015
European Union Referendum Bill

"Of course, my noble friend is quite right that these measures could be repealed, but they could also be extended and improved on by a British Government. If we are looking for good conditions for people at work, I would say that a huge advance in recent years was that …..."
Lord Grocott - View Speech

View all Lord Grocott (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: European Union Referendum Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 23 Nov 2015
European Union Referendum Bill

"I do not think there is any disagreement about the need to provide precise factual information so that people can make the judgment that they will have make when the referendum is called. That is clearly a benefit. The difficulty that arises—it is pretty obvious to me and I hope …..."
Lord Grocott - View Speech

View all Lord Grocott (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: European Union Referendum Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 23 Nov 2015
European Union Referendum Bill

"In that case, the noble Lord really should have put down a different amendment. In my book, possible consequences means possible consequences. Possible consequences of withdrawal from one organisation will include what will happen to the beneficiaries, if that is the right word, of the common agricultural policy in the …..."
Lord Grocott - View Speech

View all Lord Grocott (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: European Union Referendum Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 23 Nov 2015
European Union Referendum Bill

"I think actually it is much clearer from the noble Lord’s perspective if he says “consequences” and does not put “possible”. I think we are beginning to dance on pinheads now, but test it out in the pub. What are the possible consequences of you not paying for your pint? …..."
Lord Grocott - View Speech

View all Lord Grocott (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: European Union Referendum Bill
Written Question
European External Action Service
Tuesday 17th November 2015

Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current cost of the EU delegations and offices in third countries, and where those delegations and offices are located.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Overall figures on the cost of EU Delegations overseas for the 2014 financial year have been taken from the Draft General Budget of the EU for the Financial Year of 2016 and are:


Remuneration and allowances €

Other administrative expenditure €

TOTAL €

Total Delegations

162.395.182

141.772.693

304.167.875

A full breakdown of the total cost has been extracted and is in the document attached. The figures listed are in Euros.