I have listened with interest to what the Chancellor has been saying. I appreciate the measured way in which he has presented his proposals and, indeed, the cross-party support for them, and I have no wish to disturb that support. However, will the Chancellor think again about two aspects of what he has said?
First, there is the question of the terms on which the loan will be repaid. Given that the deal is currently quite advantageous to the Irish in terms of interest rate security and, indeed, the standing of the loan, would it not be possible to negotiate the option for the UK to be repaid in sterling should there be an interesting movement in the sterling-euro exchange rate, which is quite likely?
Secondly, given that the right hon. Gentleman rather alarmingly says that this might not be the end of the matter, and that therefore he has left the way open, through just the affirmative procedure, for more substantial loans—I think I understand the situation correctly from what he says—to be made to Ireland, will he look at making such action subject to new legislation in the House, which would attract more attention and scrutiny from this body?
Loans to Ireland Bill
Proceeding contribution from
Geoffrey Robinson
(Labour)
in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 15 December 2010.
It occurred during Debate on bills
and
Committee of the Whole House (HC) on Loans to Ireland Bill.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
520 c941 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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Timestamp
2023-12-15 14:30:54 +0000
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