European Single Market

Lord Ryder of Wensum Excerpts

Thursday 9th December 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

The coalition is working extremely well. There are certainly good points in the plan. Spreading the word is one recommendation in the report. We agree with that. SMEs having a level playing field? We agree with that. Proposals being SME-proofed so that the legals do not work against them? We agree with that. The liberalisation of services? Excellent. Moving architects backwards and forwards? We should be able to do that. Creating a digital single market? We want to do that. A single market in energy and freedom of movement there? We want that. Freezes on new laws that cost jobs? We will have to discuss that. Rebalancing the EU budgets towards growth? That is exactly what the report was about. It is an excellent report and we are very happy to support most of it.

[Lord Ryder of Wensum]

My Lords, contrary to the impression conveyed by the noble Lord, Lord Reid, that the British Chambers of Commerce are asking for a vast extension in the budget, is my noble friend aware that the BCC’s memorandum to the House of Lords states precisely:

“The Post-2013 budget should be set at not more than 1% of GDP”?

I cannot see how that statement in the document is consistent with the impression conveyed by the noble Lord.

[Baroness Wilcox]

My Lords, I said that we agreed with most of the things in the document, but there are some on which we are still reflecting.