Questions To The Prime Minister Rt Hon Tony Blair Esq

20 June 2005

Sir Stuart Bell (Middlesbrough) (Lab): Building on the questions asked by my right hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, East (Dr. Strang) and my hon. Friends the Members for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) and for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner), and the suggestion of the Leader of the Opposition, would it not be appropriate to have a debate in our country? We welcome the Prime Minister addressing the European Parliament on Thursday, but can we have a debate that tells our people about the prosperity, jobs, trade and the human rights platform that come from the European Union? Would not that be an appropriate way to fill the political vacuum referred to by my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover?

The Prime Minister: I am sure that, as we should be, our country will be a major player in any debate about the future of Europe