Intergovernmental Conference (Hansard, 10 July 1996)

§ 15. Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the meetings attended by Ministers in his Department with their European Union counterparts to prepare for the intergovernmental conference. [35175]

§ Mr. David Davis
There are ministerial sessions of the IGC approximately once a month.

§ Mr. Griffiths
I dare say that, when the Minister next attends one of those meetings, he will want to trumpet loudly the success of LG's investment in Newport, in south Wales. He may also point out to his European counterparts that such major inward investors pay excellent wages, provide good working conditions and have absolutely no fear of the social chapter: indeed, they have suggested that they would welcome it. Does not LG's decision show that it has no qualms about the signing and implementing of the social chapter by a Labour Government?

§ Mr. Davis
The hon. Gentleman omits to mention that LG has contributed just one part of what has been record inward investment for a long time. The reason for that investment is hardly the reason given by the hon. Gentleman; it has been made because we have a liberal, well-run, free labour market, which is effective in generating wealth and which gives a proper return on investment. That is the view not only of people in Japan, Korea and other parts of the world but of those who run Siemens and Deutschebank and those responsible for the German equivalent of the CBI. They say exactly the opposite of what the hon. Gentleman 398 has said. Indeed, the leader of his party had to sit and listen to Mr. Henkel speaking about precisely that issue. As he pointed out, the British model under a Conservative Government for the past decade and a half and more is what has generated wealth, jobs and inward investment in this country, and Germany should follow suit.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
Have the subject and the problems of Cyprus appeared on the agenda of any of the meetings to which my hon. Friend referred and, if so, has he advised our European Union colleagues that Turkish troops have a right to be in Cyprus, as Turkey is a guarantor power and went there to protect the Cypriot Turkish community? Have the Government told colleagues in the European Union that it is vital to treat Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots equally on all occasions, because, without the agreement of both communities, any progress is unlikely?

§ Mr. Davis
On the explicit matters that my hon. Friend raises, the question of Cyprus has not come up in detail. Obviously, it has come up as a matter of principle in relation to the enlargement of the Community.
On my hon. Friend's second comment, I can reiterate only the point made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State that this country supports a bizonal, bicommunal, federal and therefore fair settlement for Cyprus.