Contributions
1,178 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIncome tax (charge)The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that for decades we have had lower business investment in the UK economy than our peers. That was why, in the autumn statement a year ago, I…31 Oct 2024HANSARDIncome tax (charge)I actually liked neither. I was the person who reversed the decisions made in the mini-Budget, but I will say this: at least Liz Truss wanted to grow the economy and said so…31 Oct 2024HANSARDIncome tax (charge)Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman ought to read the next paragraph, in which the OBR says that it is “not possible to judge” how much those pressures would have been offset by…31 Oct 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThis are indeed our final exchanges in the House, so before tomorrow’s fireworks I wish the Chancellor well for the future in her role. There has been a lot of common ground…29 Oct 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe all know why the Chancellor is inventing this fictitious black hole. Thirty times this year, before the election, she promised not to raise tax, and now she is planning to…29 Oct 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsWhen the Chancellor was sitting on the Opposition Benches she repeatedly attacked cronyism, so will she tell the House whether she told the Treasury permanent secretary that Ian…03 Sept 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI think that means the answer is no. The ministerial code states: “Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their public…03 Sept 2024HANSARDPublic Spending: InheritanceI thank the Chancellor for advance sight of her statement, and I echo her thoughts for the people and emergency services of Southport. Today, she will fool absolutely no one with…29 Jul 2024HANSARDPublic Spending: InheritanceThe Chancellor says that the information is new, but she told the Financial Times : “You don’t need to win an election to find” out the state of public finances, as “We’ve got the…29 Jul 2024HANSARDEconomy, Welfare and Public ServicesI beg to move an amendment, at the end of the Question to add: “but humbly regret that there is no mention in the Gracious Speech of the improved economic conditions the…22 Jul 2024HANSARDEconomy, Welfare and Public ServicesI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that intervention, because it allows me to explain why he is completely mistaken in what he is saying. We offered a set of carefully and…22 Jul 2024HANSARDEconomy, Welfare and Public ServicesYes, we are minded to support the Bill, subject to having had a close look at it, because we think it is perfectly sensible. Whether it is completely necessary is a different…22 Jul 2024HANSARDPublic Sector Productivity ProgrammeImproving public sector productivity is a major focus for this Government, which is why I announced £4.2 billion of funding to make our public services more efficient in the…07 May 2024HANSARDPublic Sector Productivity ProgrammeLet me be clear: there is absolutely no hiding place for anyone, whether they are connected to the Conservative party, the Labour Party or any other party. If they have defrauded…07 May 2024HANSARDPublic Sector Productivity ProgrammeMy hon. Friend is right to talk about the What Works programme, which has delivered more than 500 trials and is recognised internationally. There are some very good example in the…07 May 2024HANSARDPublic Sector Productivity ProgrammeWhat it shows is that we took very difficult decisions in the pandemic to speed up access to PPE for frontline workers, who were literally dying at the time—but there should be no…07 May 2024HANSARDPublic Sector Productivity ProgrammeBecause we are taking legal action, and as the hon. Gentleman knows full well, when we take legal action, that information belongs to the police.07 May 2024HANSARDTax ReductionThe spring Budget delivered personal tax cuts, including cuts to national insurance, for 29 million workers. That means that someone on the average salary has the lowest effective…07 May 2024HANSARDTax ReductionMy hon. Friend and I have talked about this issue on many occasions. She will know that high-factor sunscreen is on NHS prescription for certain conditions and is VAT-free when…07 May 2024HANSARDTax ReductionWe are doing everything we can to support small businesses. Businesses like the one that the right hon. Gentleman mentions have received, for two years in a row, a 75% discount on…07 May 2024