The UK\u2019s membership of the European Union brings many benefits to the UK, including jobs and investment, free access to the largest common market in the world and a strong collective voice to negotiate free trade agreements. EU Membership also gives the UK greater international influence on global threats such as climate change and Ebola. The Government\u2019s position remains clear: the EU must reform to become more competitive, democratically accountable and fair for those inside and outside the Eurozone. The need for reform is widely recognised among EU Member States and the Government has already shown that it is possible, through our success in cutting the EU budget, reforming the Common Fisheries Policy, reducing the burden of EU regulation on business and ending the UK\u2019s bailout obligations.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-25T15:07:53.187Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "UK Membership of EU"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 5 February (HL4559), whether they consider it to be in the interests of the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union in its existing form of membership.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/952", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Tebbit"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Tebbit"} ], "uin" : "HL4946"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/177006", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/177006/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has discussed our EU reform plans with 19 Member States as part of his EU programme of visits. He plans to visit the remaining Member States before the election. The Foreign Secretary has met a range of Presidents, Ministers of Government, Officials, and leaders from Civil Society and business. He has been clear on his desire to seek agreement with our colleagues in the EU on the details of proposed reforms, which will be developed in discussion with Member States in the coming months. In the Foreign Secretary\u2019s discussions he has covered the full range of issues that this Government would like to see reformed in the EU; Fairness, Democratic Accountability, Competitiveness and Migrant Access to Benefits. The Foreign Secretary has found a renewed focus on the economic aspects of the reform agenda, recognition that much of the UK\u2019s reform agenda is now part of EU thinking and the clear message that Member States want the UK to remain in the EU.
<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-16T16:51:35.317Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "UK Membership of EU"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, further to the reply by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 27 January (HL Deb, col 190), what were the successful negotiations undertaken by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with other European Union member states which are said to have achieved \"some very positive results\"; and in each case what were the issues relating to \"our relationships with the European Union\" which have been discussed and the proposals made by the United Kingdom in such discussions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/693", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kinnock"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kinnock"}
], "uin" : "HL4636"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/176650", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/176650/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Membership of the EU brings the UK many benefits, including jobs and investment and a strong collective negotiating voice to negotiate free trade agreements. But the British Government is clear that the EU must reform to make it more competitive, democratically accountable and fair for those inside and outside the Eurozone.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-05T15:25:48.787Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "UK Membership of EU"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether they consider that it is in the interest of the United Kingdom to remain a member of the European Union.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/952", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Tebbit"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Tebbit"} ], "uin" : "HL4559"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169689", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169689/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
The Department conducts Impact Assessments of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between the European Union (EU) and other major economies, including, as far as possible, impacts on United Kingdom (UK) trade. Impact Assessments have been published on the FTAs between the European Union and Korea; and between the EU and the Andean countries (Colombia and Peru). These are available at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2010/328/pdfs/ukia_20100328_en.pdf<\/a> and http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2013/151/pdfs/ukia_20130151_en.pdf<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Department published research into the potential impact on the UK of an FTA between the EU and the United States (US) in 2013. This research has informed the Government\u2019s approach to the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP), currently under negotiation. This research estimates a long-term permanent annual increase in bilateral trade between the UK and US of around £38 billion. The study is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/198115/bis-13-869-economic-impact-on-uk-of-tranatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-between-eu-and-us.pdf<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> To assess the impacts of other FTAs on the UK, the Department draws on analysis conducted by the European Commission. The European Commission has conducted research into the estimated impact on the EU of FTAs it has negotiated and is negotiating on the UK\u2019s behalf. The studies also consider the impact of FTAs on bilateral trade. These Impact Assessments are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/policy-making/analysis/sustainability-impact-assessments/assessments/<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>