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1,493 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFurther Education Colleges: Recovery of VATI am grateful to my noble friend for his question. As I have said, the Government are continuing to look into the VAT position of these colleges. Of course, admitting further…09 Jun 2026HANSARDFurther Education Colleges: Recovery of VATThere is a great deal to be said in favour of what Alan Milburn sets out in his interim review. He has published his interim review, setting out the drivers of youth unemployment.…09 Jun 2026HANSARDFurther Education Colleges: Recovery of VATYes, although overhauling the entire VAT system would be something of a long-term project.09 Jun 2026HANSARDFurther Education Colleges: Recovery of VATThere is a lot there. I am confident that HMRC accepts the law and is following the law, but I am more than happy to look into the points that the noble Lord raises.09 Jun 2026HANSARDFurther Education Colleges: Recovery of VATAs I have already said, the Government are aware of this issue and we are looking into the VAT position of these colleges. As I have also said, we have significantly increased the…09 Jun 2026HANSARDFurther Education Colleges: Recovery of VATMy Lords, further education colleges are publicly funded and provide free education. No VAT is charged on these services, meaning colleges cannot recover VAT on their costs.…09 Jun 2026HANSARDFurther Education Colleges: Recovery of VATI agree with my noble friend’s overall point that we want greater levels of parity between FE colleges and other educational establishments. The Government are delivering those…09 Jun 2026HANSARDFurther Education Colleges: Recovery of VATBoth of those points are swept up in the point that I have already made: the Government are continuing to look into the VAT position of these colleges.09 Jun 2026HANSARDFurther Education Colleges: Recovery of VATI am grateful to my noble friend for her question. I hear what she says and reassure her that the Government are aware of this discrepancy and are actively looking into it.09 Jun 2026HANSARDFurther Education Colleges: Recovery of VATAs I have said, we are looking into the VAT position of these colleges. I am not in a position to put a timescale on that just now.09 Jun 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic ResponseI am very grateful to the noble Baronesses, Lady Neville-Rolfe and Lady Kramer, for their comments and questions. The noble Baroness, Lady Neville-Rolfe, ended her remarks with…01 Jun 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic ResponseI am grateful to the right reverend Prelate. As he will know, the Government set out their plans for the aid budget in the last spending review. He is absolutely right that the…01 Jun 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic ResponseIt really does take a Brexit zealot to say that. Cutting tariffs may gain us 0.001% of GDP whereas Brexit itself has cost us a minimum of 4% of GDP, although estimates now say…01 Jun 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic ResponseAs the noble Baroness will know, as she is far more expert in these matters than I am, in order to support farmers and the freight industry we have cut duty on red diesel. Red…01 Jun 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic ResponseDoes the noble and learned Baroness mean small nuclear reactors?01 Jun 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic ResponseThe noble Baroness knows that we have introduced a temporary cut in the rate of VAT on summer attractions, from 20% to 5%. Over the summer holidays, from 25 June to 1 September,…01 Jun 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic ResponseJust to be clear, I said that oil and gas production in the North Sea is an important and valuable resource, and I support its continued use. I did not comment on Jackdaw and…01 Jun 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic ResponseThe deal to introduce the first of its kind has been signed with Rolls-Royce, and it is going to be located in north Wales. I think this is incredibly exciting technology and we…01 Jun 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic ResponseI am grateful to the noble Lord for his question, but I am slightly mystified by his saying that he has raised it before and that it has not been answered. I think I have…01 Jun 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic ResponseWe are spending billions of pounds on exactly what the noble Lord asks about. I am not sure how he would fund the tax cut that he proposes, but, as I have said before, unfunded…01 Jun 2026