Contributions
735 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHousehold Energy Bills: VATI am sorry, could the hon. Gentleman repeat that?11 Jan 2022HANSARDHousehold Energy Bills: VATI am pleased to respond to this debate on behalf of the Government, although, as my right hon. Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire (Dame Andrea Leadsom) has said, the…11 Jan 2022HANSARDHousehold Energy Bills: VATThe share of our support is going up. We are also increasing the number of people who are likely to be in scope. We are consulting on increasing the number of people for whom that…11 Jan 2022HANSARDHousehold Energy Bills: VATI do not think that focusing on a jobs-led recovery is the wrong thing to do. Indeed, that is precisely what is vital to the life chances of families up and down the country. I…11 Jan 2022HANSARDHousehold Energy Bills: VATMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. I think one of the Prime Minister’s bravest decisions was in July last year, when he took the decision to move to step 4 of the roadmap. The…11 Jan 2022HANSARDHousehold Energy Bills: VATThe hon. Gentleman is right to say that we need to be moving towards technologies such as air source heat pumps. That is why our heat and buildings strategy sets out a plan to…11 Jan 2022HANSARDHousehold Energy Bills: VATI do not think anyone is saying that we are going through an easy time. We have just emerged from the teeth of an international pandemic, which is still causing major challenges.…11 Jan 2022HANSARDHousehold Energy Bills: VATIt is vital that we make sure that we support households to make the changes to their homes that are needed to improve their energy efficiency. That is precisely why we have £471…11 Jan 2022HANSARDHousehold Energy Bills: VATThat was a typically temperate intervention from the hon. Gentleman. To make sure that work pays, we have cut the universal credit taper rate by 8p, from 63p to 55p. That is an…11 Jan 2022HANSARDHousehold Energy Bills: VATWell, this is the Government who have introduced the £500 million household support fund, which is designed to help the most vulnerable households during the course of this…11 Jan 2022HANSARD Charter for Budget Responsibility and Welfare CapThe charter for budget responsibility is, at its core, about fiscal responsibility. Its existence is born of the belief that stable public finances are the foundation for building…10 Jan 2022HANSARD Charter for Budget Responsibility and Welfare CapI beg to move, That the Charter for Budget Responsibility: Autumn 2021 update, which was laid before this House on 5 January, be approved.10 Jan 2022HANSARD Charter for Budget Responsibility and Welfare CapI think it remains the case that we need to make sure that our debt-to-GDP ratio is more sustainable than it is at present, and I do not think colleagues would significantly demur…10 Jan 2022HANSARD Charter for Budget Responsibility and Welfare CapThe reality is that much of what we have put in place—this has been a £400 billion response—will take time to filter through the economy and out the other side. Clearly we expect…10 Jan 2022HANSARD Charter for Budget Responsibility and Welfare CapThe Bank of England has obviously helped to underpin our wider response to the crisis that we face. Clearly, it does have a bearing on the relevant significance of debt, but it…10 Jan 2022HANSARD Charter for Budget Responsibility and Welfare CapMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. We are certainly not saying that we are in an untenable situation, but we are saying that it is important to meet our fiscal rules and to get…10 Jan 2022HANSARD Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. Our public servants do so much to support this country, and over the past 22 months their efforts have been more vital than…05 Jan 2022HANSARD Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]I thank my hon. Friend for his question; it is a good one. It is important to provide reassurance on this point. The McCloud remedy aims to ensure that where pension members are…05 Jan 2022HANSARD Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]As Chair of the Justice Committee, my hon. Friend brings a huge amount of expertise to bear on this issue. I can make an absolute commitment that we will look at this, and I will…05 Jan 2022HANSARD Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]I recognise my hon. Friend’s considerable expertise on this issue. I thank him for making that point, which is well worth our taking away. I will certainly commit myself to…05 Jan 2022