Orders of the Day — European Communities (Amendment) Bill — [4th Allotted Day]

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 6:21 pm on 17 October 2001.

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Photo of Angela Browning Angela Browning Vice-Chair, Conservative Party 6:21, 17 October 2001

I have taken a considerable amount of time and, much as I am enjoying the debate, I ought to summarise my other concerns about the treaty.

My right hon. Friend Mr. Heathcoat-Amory spelled out his concerns about industrial policy, which I share. Every time the Government establish a deregulation taskforce, we know that it will not succeed. Once one signs up to the social chapter—lots more is going to come into it—one automatically puts a brake on Britain's competitive edge. There is no way out of that scenario and no exit strategy in respect of the social chapter now that the Government have signed up to it. Like my right hon. Friend, I am concerned about more integration in that hidden 95 per cent. of the treaty that affects our competitiveness through industrial policy.

I am also concerned about control of EU political parties, but I shall not speak in detail about it.