- Reference: 2006/3021
- Question by: Damian Hockney
- Meeting date: 13 December 2006
In answer to my question 2544 / 2006 you stated that the benefits to London of European Union membership 'are huge and certainly bigger than our contribution to the EU budget' (£5,000 million in 2007-13). Please can you quantify these benefits. In particular, please can you explain how London would be denied access to EU markets if the UK were outside the EU. Switzerland, Norway, the United States and China do not seem to suffer lack of access to EU markets. Also can you give examples of UK membership of the EU contributing towards 'peace and political stability'.