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166 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI am very, very close to making a point, but why not? There are more people wishing to speak on the Opposition Benches than on the Government Benches, so as someone who has many…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentWill the right hon. Gentleman give way?19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI salute the right hon. Gentleman’s quest for clarity. Will he provide others with that clarity? Would his party reverse this policy?19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for your reminder. I have come to the end of my section on context, so let me bring my speech to a close. [ Interruption. ] My hon. Friend the…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI will be reasonable and give way to Members, but first I want to point out that some of the money that has been saved will be spent on the national health service. There is £25.6…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentAs I mentioned, my hon. Friend commissioned research from the Library. The cumulative effect overall will be somewhere in the realm of £1,500 per pensioner. As I said, were I a…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI am very respectful of the hon. Member, and I will bring him in in a moment.19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentOn the contrary. Of course there are difficulties and complexities caused by a war on the continent of Europe and by a once-in-a-generation pandemic, but they did not cause the…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI thank the hon. Member for his point, but I feel like he has not really listened to what I was saying. The point that I was making was that, at the time, the Government of the…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI would be happy to give way, but I am coming to the thrust of my argument. As a result, the state pension did not increase by 8.3%, as it could have done that year. It instead…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI am about to get to the thrust of my argument, if the hon. Lady would not mind. We have been talking about the winter fuel allowance and money being taken from pensioners, which…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI thank the hon. Gentleman for his talking points from Conservative campaign headquarters —they have been very much received on this side of the House. I do not relish having to…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI would, and here’s why: when there are difficult decisions to be taken, we cannot shirk from them. When the Government shirk from those decisions, they end up with the grotesque…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, but those in receipt of pension credit are still receiving winter fuel allowance, and all will benefit from this party’s total…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentIt is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for South Leicestershire (Alberto Costa), a Member for whom I have a lot of fondness, but with whom I am afraid I am going to part ways…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentAs I have said, the Opposition’s time is being taken up, not mine, so I will draw this entertaining speech to a close. I am pleased that Opposition Members are proud of their…19 Mar 2025HANSARDBreakfast Clubs Early Adopter SchemeI refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I welcome Opposition Members’ interest in breakfast clubs. Can the Secretary of State confirm that all…10 Mar 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesI refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I was very taken by the point made by the shadow Chancellor when he talked about the excellent…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily Businessesrose—26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesI am having so much fun that I will happily give way.26 Feb 2025