Foreign Secretary to be quizzed on referendum timings, migration and EU reform by Lords Committee
On Tuesday 26 January, Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, will give evidence to a Lords investigation into the Government's EU reform proposals.
The House of Lords EU Committee is holding an inquiry into the Government's long-term vision for the EU, examining whether it is shared by stakeholders both within the UK and in the EU as a whole, ahead of the forthcoming referendum on UK membership of the EU.
Questions that the Committee is likely to put to Mr. Hammond include:
- Is there an underlying vision for EU reform underpinning the proposals that the Government have set out?
- Is it realistic to expect to reach agreement on the reform objectives at the February European Council?
- How can any reform deal be made legally binding?
- The Prime Minister is seeking to exclude EU migrants from accessing in-work benefits such as tax-credits during their first four years in the UK – given the concerns that have been expressed by other countries, what alternatives to this proposal are there?
- What is the likelihood that an agreement can be reached to safeguard the interests of both Eurozone and non-Eurozone states?
- What is the Government seeking to achieve by ending “Britain's obligation to work towards an ‘ever closer union'”?
The evidence session on Tuesday 26 January will take place in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords at 4.10pm.
