Contributions
464 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDThe EconomyI am afraid I disagree with the hon. Lady. It is very important that this House recognises and admits that, because there was a once-in-a-generation pandemic that cost the…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyWith permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the economy, following the release of inflation data by the Office for National Statistics this morning…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyMy response to the hon. Gentleman, whom I respect deeply, is twofold. First, we are at an inflection point and the job is not complete. We know that many millions of people are…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyLet me start by welcoming the shadow Minister’s remarks, and by saying that no one on the Government Benches—certainly not me—feels that times are not still tough for many…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyI do agree, but let me draw attention to a specific point that is often ignored. The Chancellor’s decisions over the last two fiscal events have set the country up for growth in…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyMy right hon. Friend has put that incredibly well. Very good things have happened to our economy over recent months, particularly in my own area of financial services. I would add…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyMy response is that this Parliament has seen an unprecedented hit to people’s living standards because of covid—a once-in-100-years impact. Might I remind the House that this…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyMy hon. Friend makes an important point about those on the Labour Benches. I must admit that I disagree with him on one key point: the idea that they might inherit this. We are…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyI am afraid I disagree with the hon. Lady on points of fact. I have already set out so many statistics that show that things are significantly improving in the economy, and at a…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyWhat I will certainly accept is that there are millions of people in this country for whom the cost of living crisis is still real. That is why we are taking the action that we…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyI thank my hon. Friend for a characteristically thoughtful and informed question. I will indeed look at what he said about the Bank of England’s balance sheet being settled by…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyAs my hon. Friend knows, it is for the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England to determine the policy on interest rates, but we hope that working in partnership with the…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyI agree with my hon. Friend, who is a fantastic champion for his constituents in this House, as everybody in this House knows. The only thing I would add to what he has said is…22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyMy hon. Friend is a brilliant champion for Bracknell Forest, a part of the country that I know well, and I completely agree with his remarks.22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyAs my hon. Friend knows, the Chancellor keeps all taxes under review. I will ensure that he has heard my hon. Friend’s comments and pleas.22 May 2024HANSARDThe EconomyI have been in correspondence with my hon. Friend a few months ago on this very question, and I would be happy to engage with him on it again.22 May 2024HANSARD Royal Bank of Scotland Branch ClosuresI commend the hon. Member for Edinburgh North and Leith (Deidre Brock) on securing this debate. I know this subject is important to many of her constituents, and indeed to those…14 May 2024HANSARD Royal Bank of Scotland Branch ClosuresI appreciate that intervention from the hon. Member. I will say to him, very directly, something that I was going to say later in my speech. In the case of rural constituencies—he…14 May 2024HANSARD Royal Bank of Scotland Branch ClosuresI am very happy to speak with the hon. Lady about the challenges that Northern Ireland has in this regard—the statistic she outlined speaks for itself. In relation to the…14 May 2024HANSARD Royal Bank of Scotland Branch ClosuresMy response is, in part, to repeat what I have already said, which is that we were the first Government to legislate on access to cash in law, through the Financial Services and…14 May 2024