§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Governmen:
Further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 8 December (WA 37), whether their Guide to the European Union sets out any disadvantages to the United Kingdom of its European Union membership; whether they consider any such disadvantages to exist; and, if so, what are those disadvantages. [HL388]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanNot only the considerable benefits, but also the obligations, rules and costs entailed by membership of the European Union (EU) are explained throughout the Foreign and Commonwealth Office'sGuide to the European Union (see for example pages 12, 13, 14 and 26). The guide also specifically points to several areas where the Government believe the EU could work better (see page 27). We believe that EU membership is on balance overwhelmingly in Britain's national interest.