Live Treasury Questions House of Commons

Welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the House of Commons. In

an hour, the leader of the house, Chris Grayling, will table a motion

making time for a Commons debate and vote on military action in Syria, to

take place in the chamber tomorrow. The main business today will be the

remaining stages of the Immigration Bill, which introduces the new

offence of illegal working and gives the state the power to seize the

wages of illegal workers. That will be followed by motions on Northern

Ireland and High Speed two rail network. Join me for a round-up of

the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11 o'clock this evening. First,

we have questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne,

and his team of ministers. Order, order. Questions to Mr

Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Chancellor. I would like to answer

this question along with question number 11. This government knows

there cannot be a successful economy without support for business and

enterprise. That is why we are cutting corporation tax, increasing

the employment allowance and setting a permanently high investment

allowance. It is why we also increased our support for industrial

policy including a boost for science and announced a double small

businesses which relief next jet, helping 600,000 small businesses.

How will my right honourable friend help small businesses compete with

the de facto subsidy that businesses with complex overseas tax structures

get, which results in them paying no or very low tax in the UKs

articulately given small business Saturday is coming up this weekend?

The small business Saturday is an important initiative and one that I

think everyone in this house should support. Mata mix of good point

about the international tax rules. The good news is that they have

started to change. We have an agreement in the OECD and Britain is

amongst those countries implement those changes the. The best example

is the diverted profits tax, which is already raising revenue and

tackles these big knotty nationals who do not pay their fair share of

tax in the UK -- big multinationals. At the same time, we are cutting tax

for small businesses. Thanks to the government's long-term economic plan

's, we have seen a record number of company registrations in my

constituency, with 202 companies registered in Gillingham during the

first quarter. One company, which the Chancellor visited with me, have

asked me to ask the Chancellor to clarify the government position on

the annual investment allowance for businesses. It is fantastic to hear

about the good news in Gillingham and the new companies being

registered and the jobs being created there. Thanks to the strong

economy and the long-term economic plan that my honourable friend

refers to add a strong parliament making sure the infrastructure comes

to that part of Kent, the annual investment allowance will now be set

at ?200,000, a permanent rate, much higher than the rate we inherited

from the last government. That will help companies like that fantastic

business which I visited with him continue to grow and expand. The

Chancellor announced some significant tax rises for business

in his spending review, and also cut quite a lot of business grants

through his spending settlement through the department for business.

But can he give an expression for table 3.7 of the OBR bluebook, which

downgrades productivity for the UK economy? Pocket -- productivity per

hour is due to fall from the previous forecast for 2016 and 2017

and 42018. What is the reason behind the OBR's downgrading of

productivity? The OBR have made their assessment, but it shows that

productivity actually picks up through this Parliament. He and I

have had many discussions about this. I think we agree that

productivity is a long-term challenge for the UK. We are trying

to solve that through things like the apprenticeship levy, which will

be one of those so-called taxes he describes. It is not a tax, in the

sense that companies get their money back. It is the kind of thing we

need to do to deal with productivity challenges. As part of the need to

look at fiscal steps to support businesses, will the Chancellor also

give consideration to the extension of the rural fuel rebate scheme to

other regions that have not been considered? I am happy to give

consideration to that. We are operating within the maximum

flexibility that the European Union rules allow us on this. Any postcode

that qualifies, we have put forward for the scheme we injured used in

the last Parliament. I am happy to look at specific cases in Northern

Ireland to see if they qualify. The Chancellor said the apprenticeship

levy is a levy, but what many businesses see is a tax on

employment, collected through PAYE. Does the Chancellor think that is

compatible with the lock on taxes on business, and could he also say what

estimate he has made of the cost of the apprenticeship levy to the

public sector, which I can find in the Redbook? Firstly, because the

apprenticeship levy is set up in such a way that a large company that

is employing high-quality apprentices will be able to receive

back from the government more than it puts in, that sets it aside from

classic payroll taxes and has been broadly welcomed by the business

community, although they accept the additional burden it represents. We

made the calculation is for the impact on the public sector in our

public finance projections. I can write to him with the precise

number. Can the Chancellor confirm that in addition to the 17% cut to

the business department's funding, the Autumn Statement added ?11

billion to the tax bill of businesses? It was mainly driven by

the apprenticeship levy. I would have hoped that the Scottish

Nationalist party would support an apprenticeship levy where we use the

money to create 3 million apprentices in this part of the UK,

and make sure there are arrangements to pass the money to the Scottish

Government so that they can improve skills in Scotland. But if one looks

at the record of the Scottish nationalist government, you can see

that they have been cutting FE places in Scotland. As usual, they

say one thing here and do things differently in Scotland. The

question was about the 11 billion extra tax cost for business and the

cut to the business department, something the Chancellor doesn't

want to talk about. So given that there was no increase in retail

sales in the last quarter, the CBI trends survey is down. Consumer

confidence is down, the deficit is colossal and manufacturing output is

down. Why does this Chancellor think that cutting the business department

by 17% and adding 11 billion to business costs over the spending

period is remotely sensible? Because we on this side do not equate the

health of the business sector with the size of the business department.

We have increased money going into innovation by raising the budget for

the catapult centres. We have boosted the budget for science, a UK

strength which would be undermined if Scotland became independent. And

in the independent OBR forecast, growth is up, jobs are up, living

standards are up, wages are up, all part of a successful economic plan

delivering the goods for the whole UK. As my right honourable friend

will know, the tech economy in the west of England is one of the

fastest in the UK, and start-up businesses like one in my

constituency of Bath have done that because of government investment.

Does he agree that businesses like these will help lead our economic

recovery, creating jobs and productivity in the west of England?

I pay tribute to the successful and thriving tech businesses in Bath and

across the West Country. There is an opportunity now, with the investment

in cyber security and GCHQ not too far from Bath in Cheltenham, to

create a culture of small start-up businesses to ensure that on the

back of our national security, we have commercially successful

companies building those businesses in the West Country. Can the

Chancellor confirm what measures he introduced in the Autumn Statement

to support the UK renewable energy businesses? We committed to double

the investment in renewable energy over the next five years. But what

did we actually get from this Chancellor last week? The ?1 billion

fund to develop carbon capture and storage, cut. Subsidies for solar

panels, cut. National projects like the Swansea -based tidal lagoon, not

a mention. Britain at the bottom of the European league for renewables.

Does the Chancellor agree that with companies like Tesco, IKEA, Vodafone

and Unilever, that his renewable energy cutbacks now pose a risk to

UK businesses and undermine confidence in investment? We should

all be proud of the fact that in this country, jobs are being

created, and the economy is growing and our carbon emissions fell by 8%

in the last year. We are doubling our investment in renewable energy.

At the same time, we are putting investment into things like a low

carbon nuclear power and small modular reactors, something which

will benefit South Yorkshire and the north-west of England. We don't

actually believe the way to help save the Earth is by piling costs on

people's electricity bills, so we also take action to make sure our

home efficiency scheme was more efficient so that people's household

energy bills will go down by ?30. HMRC and that's the plans locations

for its future regional centres based on a number of key principles.

In addition the cost, HMRC has taken account of local transport links,

the local labour market and future workforce supply and the need to

retain the staff and skills they need to continue their

transformation. This will reduce their estate costs by ?100 million a

year by 2025. Will he accept that basing the regional office in

Bradford would be cheaper for the taxpayer. Does he accept there is a

suitable location available in Bradford and there is not in Leeds?

And effective northern powerhouse does not mean basing everything in

Leeds in west Yorkshire. Will he think again? My honourable friend is

as ever and advocate for the interests of his constituents. The

point I would make to him is that this is a regional centre for the

whole of the Yorkshire and Humber area. In order to paint as many

members of staff as possible and reduce redundancy costs, HMRC's

assessment is that leaders better location but those working in York

or York or Sheffield or Hull, where there is a direct train service to

Leeds. The honourable gentleman is an illustrious fellow and

distinguished philosopher, but I think he is in the wrong side of the

Pennines for this question. Question number three, Mr Speaker. The

government has announced a radical reshaping of the state. At the end

of the Parliament local government will retain 100% of business rates.

The government will begin consultation shortly on these

reforms. My local authority -- authority estimates it will lose ?30

million a year as a result of this. In comparison, Westminster Council

will have their income increased tenfold. When will the council

publish clarity for councils like mine that mean they will be able to

plug a significant shortfall in funding? The devolution of business

rates swell retain the system of pop-ups and tariffs that currently

exist, so that there will be no immediate lost any local authority

as a consequence of devolution. If the power to local authorities so

that they have got stronger incentives to boost growth and local

authorities that grasp that opportunity will see their business

rates revenue increase. Would he agree with me that the point about

the announcement last week is that it is a defining moment for local

authorities? The local authorities that except the devolution of

business rates can incentivise strong local business growth, have a

strong local economy. That is the key point. He's absolutely right.

That is the key point. It is about assuring that local authorities have

the incentives to boost growth and local people can hold those local

authorities account. What consideration has been given to

doing something about business rates to support the steel industry in

line with the outcome is agreed at the steel stomach chaired by the

Business Secretary? As my right honourable friend the Chancellor

made clear, the business rates review will be completed next year

and we are looking at all the representation to receive in the

context of that review. Question number four. Mr Speaker, the

National Living Wage will mean a full-time minimum wage worker will

earn over ?4700 more by 2025, a 40% pay rise. Additionally, due to the

ripple effect of higher wages, up to a quarter of workers will see some

benefit. Economy wide which are expected to be on average not .4%

higher in 2020. There has been a widespread welcome for the national

minimum wage but inevitably this has a major effect on traditionally low

with sex is, in particular social and residential care. Does my

honourable friend accept that the government and local councils must

be mindful of the need to ensure that these are adjusted to ensure

that the viability of these set tourist? He is absolutely right that

it will be many of the 900,000 workers who work in the social care

sector who will benefit from the new National Living Wage, including many

working in residential care. That is why last week and the Autumn

Statement we made an announcement and that councils will have the

power over the course of the Parliament to come to access money

that they may need to increase the amount that the paper they're social

and residential care with new revenue streams for social care

worth up to 3.5 by 2020. The National Living Wage does not apply

to people who are self-employed who are self-employed whose wages have

been stagnating and pension contributions of fallen every year

for five years. Can the Minister tell the house why self-employed

people were not mentioned in the productivity plan and what she will

do to tackle low pay and omissions in self-employment? The honourable

gentleman speaks very powerfully of the importance of the self-employed

to our economy and we would like to pay tribute to the excellent work

that so many self-employed people do, including many people in my

family, to generate economic growth in this country. He is right that as

the wages across the economy grew and as we put more spending power

into budgets for social care for residential care, that we would

expect that to be passed on also to those who are self-employed.

Question number five. Mr Speaker, the government is committed to

having the stability employment Jon Curran figures would mean helping

around 1 million extra people find work. The impact of meeting this on

the public finances depends on fact is we cannot predict, such as what

people are likely to be paid. This is about more than just a fiscal

impact. The government wants to help disabled people benefit from the

security of employment which is why we have announced a real terms

funding increase to help people with disabilities and health conditions

to find work. I am pleased to say a delegation of young people with

autism of visiting Parliament today to discuss how we can in prove the

transition from school to work for people with autism. Improving the

written to work for people with autism or other disabilities would

be a great thing for a national finances and for the young people

themselves? I join the honourable member in welcoming so many disabled

people to Parliament today. I agree with him on the importance of doing

more to help disabled people enter work. That is why we extended the

access to work scheme, we lunched the disability confident scheme to

work with employers to ensure that they better understand the benefits

of recruiting and retaining disabled workers. Around 3.2 million people

with disabilities are in work now and the government is looking to see

this number increased dramatically over the next few years? He is

absolutely right. This is one of the most important aspects of the

government's work. He is correct that disability employment is not up

3.2 million, which is an increase of 340,000 since 2013 and 74% the year.

We are increasing real terms spending on disability employment by

around 15% at the end of this Parliament. Question number six.

Total local government spending will be higher in cash terms in 2019-20

than it is this year. The government is also the Volvo and 100% of

business rates than enough for the first time since 1990 local areas

will see the full benefits of local business rate growth in their

budgets. When it comes to local economies I am sure that the

honourable lady will join me in welcoming the fact that unemployment

has fallen by more than 25% over the last year in her constituency. Will

city -- Hull City Council lost a third of its budget from government

funding since 2010 whilst wealthier areas have increased their budgets

in some areas. The business rate proposal will benefit well-heeled

areas. Can the chief Secretary say to my constituents hyped taking tens

of millions of pounds out of the local economy will assist the

Chancellor's plan for the Northern Powerhouse for cities like old? To

be precise, local government funding is being detected in cash terms.

There is a 6.1 William reduction in central government grants and that

is more than offset by 6.3 billion increase in other sources of

income. When she mentions the Northern Powerhouse we announced

yesterday the appointment of the chairman of transport for the North.

We announced ?200 million for transport for the North over this

Parliament to transform transport connectivity in this region to make

sure that the Northern Powerhouse becomes a reality. I welcome the

measures might last week by the Chancellor to allow local government

to keep the proceeds from business rates. My local authority is one of

the smaller ones and therefore the receipts actual and potential will

always be slightly less. Can you give me an assurance that smaller

local authorities like this will see the benefits from this measure?

Yes, there will be a consultation on changes to the local government

finance system launched shortly, to be implemented in the financial year

16-17 and we to be clear that the 2% increase in the precept to fund

adult social care will be across-the-board, including rural

areas for councils that are making social care pressures. The Prime

Minister eloquent piece set out the difficulties facing public services

as a result of the Chancellor's cuts in correspondence to his own local

authority. In light of the ?27 billion windfall for the Chancellor

why is he still pursuing ?12 billion on Social Security cuts under 5% cut

to this Scottish Government? He mentions the Scottish Government

budget, which I am not sure is within the scope of the question.

The Scottish Government budget has done relatively well and there is a

40% real terms increase in capital spending over the course of this

Parliament and the reduction in resorts spending is only in real

terms and is far less than a lot of UK Government departments. Does my

right honourable friend agree that local economies like mind in

Somerset have an exceptional opportunity to benefit from the

devolution of business rates in the spending that this government will

conduct the? He is absolutely right. Which is why it is so important that

local authorities be able to keep the proceeds of growing their local

business rates if that is what they are radio and capable of doing. I am

sure my honourable friend will play his full part in the track in more

business to his constituency. Commenting upon the Chancellor's

proposals to allow local authorities to raise council tax by up to 2% in

order to fund social care, the Conservative vice chair of the Local

Government Association has reverted the creation of a postcode lottery,

stating that if you are in one of those areas but the low concept --

council taxpayers what you're likely to be saying is that unless you

physically cannot get out of bed you're going to get no help at all,

so I asked the Chancellor what equalisation measures will he take

to ensure that there is no disparity between local authorities in terms

of the funding they receive and the resultant quality of service they

can provide? One of the other announcements the honourable lady

might have missed was the extra going into an improved better care

fund, thanks to this government. She quotes the vice-chair of the LGA but

you could also have quoted from the chairman, also a Conservative, who

said the LGA has long called for further flexibility in the setting

up Council Tax and that is right that Greg Clark and Greg hands have

listened to the concerns set out by local government. Question number

seven. With your permission I would like to hand to this question along

with question it. This government backs saving and home ownership and

that support is exemplified by the Help To Buy I becomes available

today. It provides direct government support to anyone saving for their

deposit on their first home. Every 200 point you saved the government

will help you with another 50 fine. The government will give you up to

?3000 to which first home, all part of a plan to help working people.

One of the best ways to help people build up their savings so they can

buy a Help To Buy Isis is to make sure that they have good jobs with

good wages, so will my right honourable friend say what steps he

will take the drive employment in my constituency? -- ISA. I was in the

West Midlands yesterday looking at the fantastic investment that Jaguar

Land Rover are making there. Alongside that we are investing in

the infrastructure in the West Midlands. We just signed an

agreement with the authorities in the West Midlands across the parties

to put over ?1 billion into the West Midlands over the next couple of

decades, so there is a long-term commitment to the Midlands engine

and the jobs in his constituency. Last month, a local paper reported

that some areas in Cornwall had seen a 15% rise in house prices over the

last year. Could my right honourable friend outline what additional

action is being taken to assist first-time buyers in beautiful parts

of the country like Cornwall, which are popular with second home

owners, and what difference the increase in stamp duty will make? My

honourable friend always speaks passionately on behalf of her

constituents, in this case those seeking to buy their first home. The

Help To Buy Isa is available in Cornwall and will help her

constituents. The new stamp duty charge on second homes and buy to

let will raise money, and a portion of that money will be given to local

authorities in areas like Cornwall, where there are a lot of second

homes. Low interest rate have meant that many have had their saving

vehicles affected like buy to let is. What measures is he giving to

elderly people who are looking for better savings returns? There is

agreement across this House that we should have a level playing field so

that people trying to buy their first home are not disadvantaged

against those trying to buy a second home or a buy to let property. The

changes we have injured used help to do that. Alongside that, we have

made the Isa more generous. We have helped people get the most out of

their pensions. And interest rates, decided independently, are part of

the vital support for our economy going forward. On the work the

Chancellor has done on tackling the buy to let market, can I ask whether

he would consider extending it by cutting further the tax relief on

buy to let properties? We have to widen the space for first-time

buyers to get into the market, particularly in London. I welcome

the support the honourable lady gives. The problems of getting on

the housing ladder are particularly acute for first-time buyers in

London. In the summer budget, we announced changes to mortgage tax

relief for the buy to let market so that those with higher incomes saw

that reliefs go back over the coming years. What we have set out now with

the stamp duty and the changes in the summer budget represent a fair

package for homeowners, both those by a buy to let property and those

buying their first home. Could the Chancellor explain how first-time

home-buyers will benefit from his blueprint for a better deal, what

the Daily Mail calls a blitz on rip-off monopolies? I am glad my

honourable friend read that document. We are making sure that

mortgage fees are more transparent. We are making sure utility bills are

more competitive for families, cutting the electricity tariffs we

talked about earlier, but also making sure people can get a better

deal from their water company, all part of driving down costs for

families. What will really support people with home ownership is

massively increasing the supply of new homes, not, as the Autumn

Statement does, simply subsidising people to bid up the prices of

existing homes. After five and a half years in office, it is time the

Chancellor took some responsibility. He has a woeful record on housing,

exacerbating the market failure which has led to restricted supply

and consequently high prices. When will the government increases supply

by starting a real programme of mass house-building of homes for rent as

well as to buy? Over this decade, we will have built more social homes

than the entire period that the Labour Party was in government. But

affordable housing should also be housing that people can afford to

buy as well as rent. We are doubling the housing budget and undertaking

the biggest housing building programme since the 1970s. It is a

shame he was not with me in Wolverhampton yesterday, seeing the

new jobs being created at the engine plant and making sure we build new

homes for those working at that plant. As we remove gender

inequality, women born between 1953 and 1955 will receive their state

pension at the same age as men or earlier. The government has written

to all those affected by increases to state pension age and has acted

to ease the timetable at the cost of ?1 billion, ensuring that 81% of all

women affected see a rise of a year or less under the 2011 act. As

announced by the Chancellor last week, the basic state pension will

rise next year by ?3.35 to ?119.30 a week, the largest real terms

increase for 15 years. It is good to see the pension going up, but

research by the pensions policy Institute and Age UK shows that a

third of women at work are ineligible for automatic enrolment

into a workplace pension, leaving them at risk of not having a decent

income later in life. What research has he or the Department for Work

and Pensions carried out to understand what difficulties they

will have in the future? This continues a process which has been

going on since the mid-90s to equalise the state pension age and

the process in 2011 to increase the state pension age to make sure it

can be more affordable overall in terms of being able to meet our

commitments under the triple lock and the big increase I mentioned

earlier. I did not hear all of the honourable gentleman's quenching,

but I think he mentioned Age UK and the charity director of Age UK said

this. She called it a significant financial commitment from the

government at a difficult time. This will give a much-needed six-month

respite to all the women who would have had to work an extra two years.

Question ten, please. The long-term economic plan is securing the UK

recovery. We were the fastest-growing G7 economy in 2014

and 2013, joint fastest this year. The deficit has more than halved and

the national debt is set to fall this year. But the job is not yet

done and the government will continue working through the plan to

ensure Britain's long-term economic security. It was great to hear the

Chancellor last week talk about rehabilitating our prisoners. Does

the minister agree that the sale of old Victorian prisons is an example

of how economic and social reform can go hand-in-hand, bringing sales

to the Exchequer, working positively with prisoners and creating new

places in our cities for homes? My honourable friend has campaigned

consistently on these issues since 2010. The justice reforms are an

exemplary element of the long-term economic plan, combining savings

with social reform and delivering economic dividends from improved up

the ability to sites of 3000 new homes. It is because of the strength

of the economy, thanks to the long-term plan, that we have

invested in building the new prisons and closing the old ones. Last

night, I launched the all-party parliament regroup on adult

education, in recognition that at a time when we are all living longer,

having many different jobs and careers, when whole industries are

being allowed to die, our long-term economic security depends on

investing in adult education. The Chancellor was persuaded not to

slash the further education budget. Will he now acknowledged that

investing in further education is the future? She rightly identifies

the importance of continuing in further education and the fact that

more people will have multiple careers in their lives and the

availability of retraining is important. I welcome the protection

of that budget and the availability of loans for part-time students. The

government's economic plan rightly prioritise infrastructure and I

welcome yesterday's announcement of a new chairman to transport of the

north. Does my right aggro agree with me -- right honourable friend

agree with me that the regeneration of the north is vital to rebalancing

the economy? He is right and that is what is at the heart of the

enterprise zones and the concept of the Northern Powerhouse, making sure

the cities of the north at up to something that is more than the sum

of the parts. Transport for the north is a vital part of that. What

assessment has he made of the impact of the long-term economic plan to

grow the economy of the policies made and the promises being put

forward at the Green junket in Paris this week? In the mistaken belief

that by piling pounds onto power bills, you can somehow change the

world's climate? We recognise the challenges that come with energy

costs. It is also true that the green sector supports a number of

jobs in this country. It is important that we seek to lead in

terms of research and development. Question number 12. The government

is committed to raising the income tax personal allowance from ?10,600

to ?12,500 by the end of this Parliament. This is alongside our

commitment to raise the higher rate threshold to raise the higher rate

threshold of ?50,000. Over 30 million individuals will benefit

from these changes. The summer Budget confirmed an increase to the

personal budget to ?11,200 in 2017. In the light of what my honourable

friend has said, will he reassure me that as the economy continues to

recover, the government will follow sound conservative principles of

allowing people to keep more of the money they earn to spend as they

wish? Well, yes. And if we are going to continue to raise the personal

allowance and meet our commitments on income tax, we also need to make

sure we show discipline in terms of government department or spending

and the welfare budget. Number 13. With unemployment level of 31.2

million, there are more people in work than before. Over the past

year, implement growth has been driven by full-time employees and

high and medium skill occupations, showing we are now moving into the

next phase of our recovery, with high-quality employment helping to

boost productivity and raising standards across the country.

Against a backdrop of redundancies and potential redundancies in my

constituency in the mining and power sector, can the minister tell the

House what support is available to businesses of all sizes in my area

to ensure that the trend of rising employment we have seen since 2010

continues? I commend my honourable friend on his endeavours, including

the Selby district jobs first. He mentioned energy intensive

industries. We recognise the challenges that some businesses in

those sectors face. We cannot change world price levels, but we will

bring forward compared session and we will legislate to exempt them

from renewables policy costs, providing greater business

certainty. Businesses will also benefit from further cuts to

corporation tax. I have been approached by constituents who have

been excited to get their first 15 hour week job, hoping it would lead

to full-time employment. At in retail, there is a trend where over

two years later, more part-time employees are being recruited, but

no full-time job for those in post. Could the minister look into this

and make sure there are no perverse incentives for employers to create

lots of small part-time jobs without the opportunity for those people to

progress? The honourable lady raises an important point. Full-time

workers account for almost three quarters of the employment growth

since 2010. But the crucial reforming the welfare and social

system is universal credit, which six specifically to get over these

spikes you find in the hours scale so that it always pays to be in

work, and it also pays to move up the hours scale. Number 14. Since

the financial crisis, households' financial positions have improved.

Household debt as a proportion of income has fallen to 144% in the

second quarter of 2015, down from a peak of 168% in the first quarter of

2008. However, a large number of my constituents have been alarmed that

mistakes made by HMRC in overpayments to working tax credits

have been recovered without warning from their child tax credit

entitlements. Is this now the policy of the department to push people

into poverty by punishing them for HMRC's mistakes?

She may remember the terrible roar like Ron Howard government was in

power with working tax credits. I can assure the honourable lady that

we will continue to improve the administration of these and ensure

that unlike when her party was in power when you could have a ?25,000

change to your income without it affecting your working tax credits,

he got that down to ?2500. Household debt will be kept low thanks to

government support for savers such as the Help To Buy ISA is launched

today. Will the Minister encouraged me to encourage buyers to take

advantage of this? I am delighted that my honourable friend on the

half of his constituents has noticed the fact that the Help To Buy ISA

scheme launches today. There are 14 financial institutions that are

already offering this exciting opportunity to save for a home and

they hope that many of his constituents will take advantage of

it. Citizens advice said that household bills are now the chief

source of problems that people are coming to them for help with. What

will the government do to make sure the guarantor and logbook loans are

properly regulated so they don't simply replace payday loans as a

source of properly regulated credit? As the honourable lady

Hampshire will welcome in the last Parliament we took steps to bring

credit under the regulation of the Financial Conduct Authority and we

would welcome the fact as a result of that payday lending has dropped

sharply. We are also backing credit unions are many different ways in

this country to make sure that people have an opportunity to save

through their work this credit union. If she will work with me high

can assure her that we will continue to ensure that households who have

the lowest proportion of death at the moment will continue... We could

not be more grateful. The government has committed to raise the personal

alliance to ?12,500 and the higher rate threshold of ?50,000 by the end

of this Parliament. The government took the first steps to meeting

these commitments by increasing the personal alliance to ?11,000 and

raising the higher rate threshold of ?43,000. 29 billion people will pay

less tax act the these changes -- 29 million people. Kiddie outline what

measures have already been taken to help married couples keep more of

what they earn and will he consider helping stay at home parents by

increasing the marriage alliance for all taxpayers? Since 2015-16 married

couples and civil partnerships have been able to transfer 10% of their

earnings to their spice. This will increase in proportion to ending --

to any increases in the personal alliance that the government has

committed to raise the ?12,500. Given seventh -- a savings ratio to

household debt has gone from 11.8% in the first quarter of 2010 and is

not under 5% on the Trent lipstick will continue downwards, why is the

government is not taking steps to reverse this trend? The government

is delivering one of the biggest increases in living standards we

have seen for many years. We have got record levels of import --

employment. We are one of the strongest economies in the G-7 and

that is helping finance is up and down the country. Can he say what

measures will be taken to ensure their parents returning to work on

my constituency don't spend every single penny they have on

childcare? He makes a very important points. From September 2017 the

government is doubling the free childcare entitlement up to 30 hours

a week for working families with three and four-year-olds, worth up

to ?5,000 per child and from early 2017 tax free childcare will also be

introduced providing support for up to ?2000 a year to help with

childcare costs. Topical question number one. The core purpose of the

Treasury is to ensure that the asperity of the UK economy. I can

tell Baha'is that the date of the budget next year will be whether the

March the 16th. My right honourable friend has

announced the closure of the compensation scheme for extra life

policyholders at the end of this month. We will then know exactly how

many claimants there are and has no right honourable friend any plans to

extend the amount of money that is being given to the aims of this

scam? I am always of course happy to listen to representations that they

have put a very substantial sum in the compensating people who lost out

through Equitable Life and we have made sure through our payment system

that those payments have been made. That is why the scheme is coming to

a close. The Chancellor vowed the Labour pressure last week and he

made a U-turn on tax credit, but while tax credits will not be cut in

the New Year as planned, cuts the Universal Credit are still going

ahead in full, so he has not reversed his cuts the family income

but just delayed them. I am sure the Chancellor has looked at the impact

of these changes in some detail so can I ask and could you tell Baha'is

how much a single parent with one child working part-time on the

so-called National Living Wage would lose as a result of his planned

changes to Universal Credits? Let me say I did not feel a huge amount of

Labour pressure last week but I am happy to see him at the dispatch

box. We are introducing with Universal Credit the fundamental

improvement to benefit system and anyone on tax credits, including the

case that he repairs to, he has moved on to Credits from next year

will have their cash rewards protect that. Let me explain to the

Chancellor exactly what that single parent with one child working

part-time on the National Living Wage would lose. They would lose on

average ?2800 a year as a result of the cuts the Universal Credits. This

was not an Autumn Statement that will support families but one that

will punish them because 2.6 million families will still be on average

were soft life ?1600. Let me just offered the Chancellor and other way

out. If he reverses the tax giveaways to the wealthy which he

announced in the summer budget, the Chancellor could reverse the league

these cuts the family incomes while still achieving his fiscal mandate.

Wilbur Chancellor and address the threat to these families? Universal

Credits is indeed benefit where it is always going to pay to work,

always pay to expand the number of hours that to work and will get rid

of complex systems of benefits and that will help working families. Let

me make this point since the gang of four on the other side of the house

art chuntering away. The member for Leeds East he is a shadow Treasury

Minister has not bothered to turn up today because he is marching on the

Labour Party's headquarters on stop the War march and the truth is

this, until the shadow Treasury team can get attacked together in this

chamber there are cases will not be listened too seriously. With my

right honourable friend is join me in welcoming the 60% reduction in

unemployment in my constituency since 2010, the 100% rise in house

building since 2014 and the fact that Helmsley once the best market

town? I don't wish to be unkind, we have not time for these lists. What

we need a single sentence questions? The AA 64 is still a

bottleneck to investment and the traffic blackspot, with the

Chancellor look again at further investment for this route? We

certainly want to hear the good news about what is going on in Yorkshire

and what I can say to him is with the a 64 we have committed billions

of pounds to improvement in the road network. We have specifically

created a ?475 million parts for a local major roads and this is the

sort of bid that should be put in. As the Chancellor was on his feet

next week, ?1 billion of funding was removed from carbon capture and

storage, a breach of Tory party manifesto. How can you justify this

decision which will jeopardise 600 jobs in Peterhead? We are doubling

investment in renewable electricity and energy and much of that

investment is going into Scotland, but we also increase the capital

budget for the Scottish Government so instead of dropping us for

capital projects then I had the resources to pay for it themselves.

I attended the skills show in Birmingham recently. Does my

honourable friend agree with me that the levy he announced in the Autumn

Statement is an excellent further step to help young people earn and

learn? You have two provide ad better example for your colleagues,

simply too long. I was very excited to hear about the skills show in

Birmingham and I think the point my honourable friend mates is

absolutely right. By investing in apprenticeships, creating 3 million

apprentices that addresses a great weakness in the economy which is a

low skills base. The Chancellor's excitement is of no interest to the

chair. Pettiness is the point. The Chancellor is looking into airport

expansion. Given that the outcomes of the committee are vital to the

north and we were promised a response by Christmas, when can we

expect this response? I completely understand that the honourable lady

is interested in the subject, it is a subject that arise is a lot of

interest across the country. I am afraid she will just have to be

patient and see the response from the government to this important

report. I congratulate my right honourable friend and his Autumn

Statement which continued to put signs as a priority. Does he agree

that indeed Cheshire science corridor Enterprise Zone will not

only play an important role locally, but also to the UK and the northern

powerhouse? He is absolutely right. This support for Cheshire science

schools across the county and particularly supports the brilliant

work being done in Macclesfield by the many companies that have come

onto this estate, something that I know he champions. Wilbur Chancellor

in form Baha'is and he expects the UK to regain its triple-A credit

rating? As she knows, she has asked me about this before, and we have a

triple-A credit rating with one of the agencies and we will let the

others make their own decisions. Train services from Twickenham are

inadequate, they need to be faster, more frequent. With the Chancellor

look into what one thing he can provide to improve services today

and services tomorrow with the Crossrail project? Crossrail two is

scheduled to go through my constituency also. She will know

that the government has committed some money to help feasibility

studies in this Parliament. The National infrastructure commission

has been passed with reviewing further investment in London and

will report back to government before the 2016 budget. What recent

assessment has the Chancellor made of the performance of the UK

guarantee scheme? When that was lobster Treasury said it would

dramatically -- dramatically accelerate major infrastructure

investment. The only thing that has dramatically accelerated since then

has been a national debts who has missed every target he has set

himself. The guarantee scheme has already provided, has already been

approved for aid projects, the Mersey bridge, Hinkley Point see

nuclear power station. It has not always been necessary. A further 18

projects worth almost 9 billion have been supported without actually

having the need for a guarantee. As chair of women in enterprise, I am

happy that there are more women working in Britain today. A barrier

to stopping more female business owners is a lack of reliable

information on how minute there currently are. Would he meet with me

to discuss this issue and look at possible solutions? Can I

congratulate my honourable friend on the appointment to this APPG. I look

forward to working closely with him to provide the data that he seeks.

By what date does the government expect to pay the National Living

Wage doll of its employees and contractors employed by the

government? The National Living Wage is coming in next April so we will

of course comply with that. Does the Chancellor agree with me the only

way to continue to attract investment into the region is good

infrastructure and neither is the time to upgrade the 810 from

Cambridge? We put a huge amount of investment in the Cambridge

including the renovation of the famous Cavendish laboratories. I

congratulate her on the strong start she has made him championing her

constituency. That has been continued today.

The Chancellor promised twice at the Scottish referendum and in his

manifesto for carbon capture facility at Peterhead. Why has he

broken his permit is? Investment in renewables is doubling and much of

that is going to the Scottish Government. The Scottish that the

lists have got some extra money. They have increased capital

spending. If they want to do invest in carbon capture and storage in

Scotland, they can. It is called devolution. Peter bone. Star

speaker, every three weeks, British taxpayers send more than ?1 billion

to Brussels. If the British vote to come out of the EU, could the

excellent Chancellor tell us how much earlier we would eliminate the

deficit? I will not get into the debate about our membership of the

European Union, but I will say that thanks to the hard negotiating of

our right honourable friend the Prime Minister, we have cut the EU

budget. By some mistake, there doesn't seem to be a Treasury

question today on the deficit anywhere on the order paper. Apart

from the interesting intervention that was just made. So can ask the

Chancellor the question he would and answer in response to the Autumn

Statement. Does he believe that by the time he leaves the Treasury, he

will have finally dealt with our country's deficit? That is certainly

the plan. The development at Primark's new warehouse is bringing

thousands of new jobs to East Northamptonshire, but is bringing

thousands of new jobs to East Northamptonshire, but isn't the

added bonus that will be able to keep the windfall that arises? My

honourable friend has been a powerful advocate of that product.

And the devolution of business rates will help that project not only

succeed, but also make a big contribution to the local economy.

Given the answer to my honourable friend from Wirral and given that

the Chancellor has not met a single one of his own targets on economic

performance, is he therefore intending to go on and on to the

delight of the Home Secretary and the Merit London? -- the Mayor of

London? We promise to turn around the British economy, and that is

exactly what we have done. I know he is out of sorts with the cultural

revolution taking place on the front bench at the moment, but I hope in

the modern Labour Party, they let 100 flowers bloom. The entrepreneur

hi relief is a costly relief, and the Chancellor is right to reform it

earlier this year, but it is an important way to incentivise our

entrepreneurs to invest in businesses and create jobs. But my

right honourable friend give some comfort and reassure our

entrepreneurs that he remains committed to this relief and will

take it forward in the years to come? Of course, we want

entrepreneurs' relief to be directed at entrepreneurs, and that is why we

made the changes. But during our time in office, we have doubled and

we doubled the entrepreneurs' relief, so we support this help for

our enterprise economy. Last, but not least, and with commendable

brevity, I feel sure, Mr Greg Mulholland. British pubs currently

have 0.5% of British turnover, and yet paid 2.8% of business rates.

Will the Chancellor meet with me and the save the pub group to discuss

how we can better support pubs in the taxation system? Of course, the

pub industry has been supported by both the reduction in beer duty, the

increase in the employment allowance, which is a huge benefit

to many pubs, and the extension of small business rates relief which we

announced last week. I am happy to see what more we can do to support

the great British pub industry and I look forward to hearing his ideas. I

am grateful to the Chancellor and two colleagues. Treasury questions

always bust the box office records. Far more people want to take part

that there is time to accommodate, so I think colleagues will

understand. Order. Statement, business statement, no less, the

Leader of the House. Mr Christopher Grayling. Mr Speaker, with your

permission I should like to make a short business statement regarding

tomorrow's business. The main business for tomorrow will now be a

debate on a motion relating Isil in Syria. United Nations Security

Council resolution to 249. The business for Thursday remains as

previously announced, which is the second reading of the charities,

protection and social investment Bill, Lords. Members will wish to

know that subject to the agreement of the House later today, oral

questions to the Cabinet Office and to the Prime Minister will not be

taken tomorrow. The oral questions will be republished and Cabinet

Office questions will take place on Wednesday the 9th of December. The

results of the ballots for both Question Time 's will be retained,

and members will not need to resubmit their questions. I will

make my