Finance (No. 3) Bill

Part of Industrial Relations (Voting Procedures) – in the House of Commons at 6:04 pm on 26 April 2011.

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Photo of Danny Alexander Danny Alexander The Chief Secretary to the Treasury 6:04, 26 April 2011

The hon. Gentleman makes a very good point. He will perhaps know that the Economic Secretary, having taken this measure forward, is making that case for greater flexibility at a European level. As this country has taken a lead on having greater flexibility in beer duties, we are in a stronger position to argue this case. Similarly, as this country has taken the lead on deficit reduction, we are in a stronger position to argue the case that we must argue at a European level, which is that further increases in the EU budget are unacceptable. So in a number of ways the actions this Government have taken put us in a position to make strong cases at European level.