Contributions
2,740 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Eighth sitting)Is that not the point, though? The hon. Lady said “across the UK”; this is a UK-wide scheme, so we have to have somebody in overall charge of the scheme, which is why we cannot…04 Nov 2021HANSARD Committee on StandardsMy right hon. Friend refers to the lack of appeal, which is a point I have heard on a number of occasions. Are not the oversight of the Committee on Standards and, indeed, the…03 Nov 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Fourth sitting)The UK is pretty much a world leader in tackling climate change, second only to Sweden in the Climate Change Performance Index. We must look at this question in the context of…28 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Fourth sitting)Is it not quite obvious? We are trying to target new investment to go into those regions, rather than existing investment being transferred from one part of the country to…28 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Fourth sitting)I understand the hon. Gentleman’s point about national infrastructure and inward investment, but would he and the hon. Member for Aberavon not concede that Tata’s investment in…28 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Fourth sitting)Can I give the hon. Gentleman some other examples?28 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Fourth sitting)Can the Minister give an example of a streamlined subsidy scheme?28 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Fourth sitting)On the Minister’s earlier point about technology needing subsidy, actually touchscreens, GPS and the internet were all developed initially through public funding, both in the US…28 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Fourth sitting)Is not a reason that this could distort competition between different parts of the United Kingdom? If an example of a streamlined subsidy scheme is the business rate grants for…28 Oct 2021HANSARD Budget ResolutionsThe hon. Lady mentions having read the Red Book and says there is no new money for housing, but the Red Book announces “an additional £1.8 billion for housing supply” and for the…27 Oct 2021HANSARD Budget ResolutionsIt is a pleasure to speak after my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay (Mr Baron). I agree with many of his comments, particularly those on the cladding scandal,…27 Oct 2021HANSARD Budget ResolutionsOn the universal credit taper rate change, my hon. Friend says it is not a tax cut. It will cost the Exchequer £2 billion to do it, so it is a tax cut in that way. On national…27 Oct 2021HANSARD Budget ResolutionsWell, I am happy to have a debate. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman should think about what I am saying, rather than simply ruling it out. It would create a fair and level playing…27 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (First sitting)Q But £500,000 is not a small amount. Professor Fothergill: We may be talking about slightly different things. I am talking about the de minimis threshold, which the Bill sets at…26 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (First sitting)Of turnover? Professor Fothergill: No, that is 10% of the cost of a capital investment. It has recently been raised to 15%. Certainly, if we are setting aid intensity ceilings in…26 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Second sitting)Q On the minimal financial assistance, how are you going to monitor that? It is up to the company to record the assistance it receives. A company could receive assistance from…26 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Second sitting)Q I realise that your primary focus is going to be very large schemes—not hundreds of thousands of pounds, but millions of pounds. Nevertheless, somebody has to monitor the…26 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (First sitting)Q You do not have to report it. Professor Fothergill: Yes, you can just get on and do things. Colleagues with whom I work in local government say that when they are involved in…26 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (First sitting)Q Subsidies are allowed only for enterprises. Are we missing anything out? Does that mean that social enterprises are excluded? Are the thresholds—£500,000 and £315,000—the right…26 Oct 2021HANSARDSubsidy Control Bill (Second sitting)It was my point, though. Thank you.26 Oct 2021