Contributions
1,533 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSpring StatementI hope my noble friend is not following the path of Liz Truss and the party opposite by criticising the OBR, because that is not a sustainable basis on which to build economic…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Baronesses, Lady Neville-Rolfe and Lady Kramer, for their questions and comments. Let me start with economic growth, this Government’s…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementNo, I do not have a full list of all SMEs in front of me, and I am not sure that that is a sensible question to ask me, if I am honest. Everyone is clear that we have a very clear…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am grateful to the noble Lord for his question. I am not in charge of the Chancellor’s correspondence unit, so I cannot say whether that letter has been replied to. I am also…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementThe noble Lord’s question is about the impact assessment, and I am answering that. The impact assessment takes no account of the extra £1 billion being invested. The OBR will look…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am grateful to my noble friend for highlighting a very important point. The Governor of the Bank of England, in his speech last week, highlighted the link between productivity…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am grateful to the noble Lord for his question and for his concern and compassion in the examples he sets out. I will set out our three principles when it comes to welfare.…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementMy noble friend is right. The Autumn Budget increased capital investment by £100 billion over the Parliament, including investment to protect record R&D funding, which, as my…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am grateful to the noble Viscount; he has far greater expertise in these matters than I do. The Secretary of State, when she presented the package of reforms to Parliament, said…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am grateful to the noble Lord. The two statements that he makes are perfectly consistent with each other. We are absolutely committed to returning ODA to 0.7% when the fiscal…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI thank the noble Lord for his question. I was lucky enough to work with him in the Treasury when he was an official there, so I know that he knows what he is talking about.…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am grateful to the noble Baroness for her concern. She talks about employment, but, according to the OBR, it will rise by 1.2 million people over the course of the forecast, so…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI hate to contradict the right reverend Prelate, but I am afraid that the impact assessment does not take account of the dynamic effects of the £1 billion invested from the £4.8…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am grateful to my noble friend for the points that she makes. I of course agree very much with her. As she knows, it was announced yesterday that we are increasing the defence…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am afraid that I do not know what that target is. If there is one, I will find out for the noble Lord and write to him.27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementThe noble Lord asks me what is compassionate and fair. I do not believe that one in eight young people not in employment, education or training is compassionate or fair. I do not…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am grateful to the noble Lord for his very generous comments; I hold him in equally high regard and have enormous respect for him and his expertise in this matter. I do not…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am grateful to the noble Lord for his question and his expertise on this matter. He rightly highlights one of the most important challenges facing this country, which is…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementThe noble Lord is quite right to focus on trade and the importance of trade to growth. I think he is wrong to say that neither the Budget nor the Spring Statement mentioned trade;…27 Mar 2025HANSARDSpring StatementI am grateful to my noble friend. Yesterday, the OBR said, as I have just outlined to the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, that the Government’s planning reforms will increase our…27 Mar 2025