Contributions
1,178 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEconomic UpdateWe will conclude the decisions on what we will do in terms of excise duty reform generally as quickly as we can, but for now, I am afraid that the difficult decision that I…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateNo, I have not. We recognise the need for more housing and the problems in the planning system. They will be at the top of our mind as we announce reforms to restore economic…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateI do accept that, and I think compassion and fairness are two sides of the same coin. I have told the right hon. Gentleman that while I cannot give the answers to any of these…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateOn the latter point, I will write to the hon. Gentleman. On the former point, I am confident that the advisers I have will be able to speak for the whole United Kingdom.17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateI believe that the Bank of England has taken important action and I refer the hon. Gentleman to what the Governor of the Bank of England said today and his confidence that those…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateI can confirm that the council’s members will be independent; I can confirm that there will be no improper influence exerted; and I can confirm, as the hon. Gentleman will be…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateThe trouble with those kinds of taxes is that they end up inhibiting the wealth-creating capacity of the economy to fund the very public services that the hon. Gentleman supports.…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateI am very happy that the hon. Gentleman is concerned about what the people of Scotland voted for, which was to remain in the United Kingdom.17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateThe Tory Government the hon. Member so hates have shown ourselves in the last few days to be willing to take tough and difficult decisions if they are right for the country, so…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateBefore I was Chancellor, with great respect to the hon. Gentleman, I think I did put my money where my mouth was. When I became Health Secretary we were funding the NHS at the…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateAs the hon. Member knows, I am not announcing any decisions today, but it would always be my intention to give a fair deal to Northern Ireland, which is an incredibly precious…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateI have regular contact and will continue to have regular contact— [ Interruption. ] Excuse me, would you let me answer? Sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker, but I was hoping the hon.…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateBecause we are getting towards the end of our questions, I will reply to the hon. Member’s letter. I do not believe there are any implications from what I have said today but, if…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateI want to do everything I can to protect our precious public services. I totally agree with the hon. Member about the link between education and economic growth, but I also think…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateWe are not going to do fracking unless it has local consent, but I also say, as someone who believes passionately that we have to do more on climate change, that it is not helping…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateI can accept that the hon. Member and I are different in that I am totally emotionally committed to the Union and it is part of my identity, and he feels differently about that,…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateIt is because I want to be able to invest in public services like the ones the hon. Member talks about that I think it is so important to take tough economic decisions at times…17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateOne of the first lessons I was told as Chancellor is never to speculate on why markets do what they do and I am not going to break that today.17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateAs I have said—I am happy to repeat it—all these decisions will be taken through the prism of the impact on the most vulnerable people in society.17 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic UpdateWe have had very decisive action from the Bank of England to do exactly that, and I hope the hon. Gentleman is encouraged by what the Governor of the Bank of England said today…17 Oct 2022