Contributions
1,528 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am happy to confirm that that levy will raise £40 billion. As I said earlier—and this is very important—the support that the hon. Lady’s constituents, and indeed all our…20 Dec 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsIn my statement yesterday I not only confirmed a six-month extension of the alcohol duty freeze, but announced that next August we will introduce an ambitious reform package which…20 Dec 2022HANSARDUK Electricity Generators: Tax on Extraordinary ReturnsAlong with resurgent demand for energy following the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and weaponisation of gas supplies has driven UK wholesale gas prices to record highs.…20 Dec 2022HANSARDCore Northern Powerhouse Rail: Public FundingMay I begin, Mr Speaker, by wishing you and all of your brilliant House of Commons staff a very merry Christmas? The integrated rail plan, published last November, set out an…20 Dec 2022HANSARDPoverty Levels in ScotlandThe Chancellor published the “Impact on households” document alongside the autumn statement 2022, containing analysis of how policy announcements affect household incomes. The…20 Dec 2022HANSARDCore Northern Powerhouse Rail: Public FundingI commend the hon. Gentleman, who speaks with great passion on these issues. He is right that the Chancellor is absolutely committed to the long-term benefit to the economy of…20 Dec 2022HANSARDEnergy Producer Profit TrendsThe structure of the electricity market means that the price of electricity is tied to the wholesale gas price. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered an unprecedented increase in…20 Dec 2022HANSARDEnergy Producer Profit TrendsObviously, the hon. Lady knows that we do not comment on the commercial decisions of individual companies. What I can confirm is that the specific levy to which she refers—the…20 Dec 2022HANSARDEnergy Producer Profit TrendsI do not entirely accept that. I would be interested to know the detail behind that figure. What we can confirm is that we have two specific levies: one on oil and gas, and one on…20 Dec 2022HANSARDPoverty Levels in ScotlandI am, as ever, grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his advice. Of course, we engage closely with the Scottish Government. The latest official statistics from the Department for…20 Dec 2022HANSARD Alcohol DutyI am extremely grateful to my right hon. Friend for his comments. He has become the chairman of the all-party beer group, but we should remember the work of the former chairman,…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Alcohol DutyI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for mentioning the producers in his constituency: Robinsons Brewery and Stockport Gin. I am grateful to them for all they are doing in these…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Alcohol DutyI enjoyed meeting the hon. Gentleman, other parliamentarians and alcohol harm stakeholders on, I think, 24 November in the Treasury. It was a good meeting, where I think there was…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Alcohol DutyI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his comments. As I said last time he asked me a question, the occupant of the Chair always seems to save the best till last. The hon.…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Alcohol DutyI am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend, who speaks with great knowledge on these matters. He has been a consistent champion for the Scotch whisky industry, standing up for it…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Alcohol DutyThe hon. Gentleman makes a good point. To clarify, the draught relief is the new differential duty between the rate applied to alcohol purchased on draught—in other words, in the…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Alcohol DutyOf course, my hon. Friend was an Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, and I should put on record that he did much of the work that led to us being able to deliver these reforms in…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Alcohol DutyWith permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the alcohol tax system. When in the autumn 2021 Budget the then Chancellor—now Prime Minister—announced the…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Alcohol DutyI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his kind words. My first ever Parliamentary Private Secretary job was as a PPS to him, as a brilliant Health Minister. He mentioned…19 Dec 2022HANSARD Alcohol DutyThe hon. Lady makes an important point. We are aware of the importance of energy costs. I was absolutely clear just now that we will report in the new year. It has taken slightly…19 Dec 2022