Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 23 January 2007.
David Cairns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (also Scotland Office), Scotland Office, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (also Scotland Office), Northern Ireland Office
2:30,
23 January 2007
I am delighted that the hon. Gentleman has raised the issue of that report, which gives me the opportunity to read out its conclusion— [Interruption.] He would do well to listen to this. It states:
"Scotland's voice in Europe is stronger as part of the UK. As one of the big 4 Member States within the EU, the UK is a very powerful player. There is no more effective a position for Scotland than having one of the most influential Member States representing Scotland's interests within all 3 of the EU institutions."
His argument is completely demolished.
