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3,765 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFinancial StatementI am pleased that, because of the actions of Conservative-led Governments since 2010, the state pension is £2,000 higher today; 700 of that is specifically because of the triple…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementWe are asking companies—especially large successful companies—to pay more. That was announced last year and legislated for, and it will come into force next year. The corporation…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementThe national living wage is actually going up by 6.6%—it is one of the highest increases we have seen in the national living wage, and it will mean that someone working full time…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementI am always happy to hear suggestions from the hon. Gentleman and, indeed, to arrange a meeting for him. I wanted to make sure that those off the gas grid still benefited from the…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementBecause of the increases to local housing allowance that this Government put in place for the pandemic, and that they have maintained, about 1.5 million people—the poorest in our…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementWith regards to the livelihoods of ordinary people, they have just received a £330 tax cut today and a discount on their fuel bill, with more tax cuts to come. This Government are…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementMy hon. Friend and constituency neighbour is absolutely right, and I thank him for his support. This change will put £330 in the pockets of 30 million hard-working British…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementWe have programmes in place to support our energy-intensive industries, and we remain in close dialogue with all companies in all sectors. Our track record on supporting industry…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementI think the hon. Gentleman missed the household support fund announcement, which is specifically for local councils, so that they can help those who are most vulnerable. Many of…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementWe do value carers. There are fewer people in poverty today than when we first came into office—1.7 million people fewer in absolute poverty than in 2010, after housing costs.…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementThe hon. Gentleman is simply wrong. Those in work, particularly on low incomes, will benefit disproportionately from the policies that have been announced today. I have given…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementMy hon. Friend makes an excellent point and he is absolutely right: we want people to be able to keep more of their own money. The tax plan announced today represents the biggest…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementThese changes were announced two years ago. They were consulted on and there are various exemptions in place, particularly to protect agriculture, which I know will be important…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementWith regard to supporting those who are homeless, the spending review in the autumn increased support for homelessness by 85%, compared with 2019 levels—to over £640 million, I…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementThe hon. Gentleman is simply wrong on VAT. If he looks at the figures published today, he will see that the OBR’s estimate of VAT receipts in the forthcoming year is actually…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementThat is categorically not the case. The policies that we have announced today will help British families up and down the country in all sorts of circumstances: we are making sure…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementI thank the hon. Member for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves) for her reply. She raised several points that I will come to in due course, but listening to her speech it sounded as though…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementI thank my hon. Friend for his support and he is right to highlight some of the independent commentators who have supported the policies announced today. I will touch on one of…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementThe hon. Lady said that there is nothing for Scotland in this statement, but maybe she missed the part about the UK-wide fuel duty cut, which, together with the freeze, will save…23 Mar 2022HANSARDFinancial StatementMy right hon. Friend has championed the issue consistently since I have had this job, and she deserves enormous credit. I would be very happy to talk to her and to take her…23 Mar 2022