Live Treasury Questions House of Commons

Order, order. New Southgate Cemetery Bill third reading. Tuesday 7th of

March. Questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I would like to

group this question with question 12. Annual funding to the Department

of Health is already being increased by ?17 billion by 2020/ 21. This

reflects the priority the Government puts on investing in the NHS. The

governments of Germany, Holland, Sweden and Denmark spent 9% of GDP

on health care about 7% in the UK. This is a massive difference. The

NHS is underfunded. If the Chancellor going to take this

seriously in the budget? The OECD has put out revised numbers to show

the UK has expenditure on health close to some of those other

countries. We can only have a properly funded NHS if we have a

strong economy and it is only this party that can deliver. When lives

are on the line, it is imperative we get it right. We need honesty about

what the current NHS crisis means. Will the Minister agree that the

Government needs to provide a long-term package to guarantee NHS

services for the future? It was this Government that announced a

long-term financially sustainable package which is why in real terms

funding for the NHS will increase by ?10 billion above inflation by 2020

/20 one. Since 2010, there are 2300 more people attending A

departments. 5000 more operations every day, 1400 more people every

day treated for mental health conditions and the NHS is conducting

16,000 more diagnostic tests every day. The Department of Health has

cut its capital budget by 20% and used that for running costs to pay

for salaries. Did the Treasury press for these cuts in capital spending

and does the Chief Secretary agree with me that raiding the capital

budget is no way to find efficiency savings? It was the request of the

health service and Department of Health that there was this which

from capital to resource but in terms of finding efficiencies in the

NHS and in the public sector as a whole, it is important we deliver

sustainable efficiencies and ensure we get value for money for the

taxpayer. Whilst I welcome this Government's commitment to health,

may I invite my right Ron Ball friend to take a leaf out of

President Trump's book and increase expenditure by 10% flooded from the

budget? In naughty idea but it has nothing to do with the Department of

Health budget. The minister is a dextrous fellow and I'm sure he can

answer in an orderly way. Although it may have a tenuous link with the

question, it was a predictable question with my right honourable

friend. We are delivering on that 2% plus expenditure on defence and we

are increasing defence spending in real terms and it is important we

have a strong economy so we can fund our defence. This shocking

revelation that NHS business services Ltd misplaced half a

million pieces of medical data as a direct result of a health service

that is being squeezed by the Chancellor's purse strings, the Tory

Government is putting patient safety at risk through lack of resourcing

and a targeted savings drive. When the Chancellor reassess the

situation and the level of NHS funding? On the level of NHS

funding, she will find that the expenditure has gone up more in

England than it has in Scotland and given that it is a devolved matter,

she might want to raise her concerns with the Scottish Government. Will

he confirm record amounts of money are being spent on the NHS and

record numbers are being treated and he will bring forward clear

incentives for local authorities and health services to join up the

delivery of NHS and social care? He is correct in terms of the resources

we are putting in but it is also important if we want to improve the

quality of health care in the context of social care, that there

is greater integration and that is why we announced the better care

fund that is making an important contribution and improving

integration. The chair of the Treasury Select

Committee is spot-on. If the Chancellor does discuss any increase

in levels of funding, when he point out to the Health Secretary that the

report says he should stop plundering NHS funds? In particular,

that is what it said. We ask him to stop his repeated raise on NHS

capital funds and stop ?950 million out of 4.5 million. Can I

congratulate the gentleman to his post. He is my eighth shadow as a

Treasury minister so I look forward to sparring with him over the weeks

ahead. In terms of the question he asks, let me repeat what I said

earlier. In terms of the budget settlement of the NHS and the

balance between resource spending and capital spending, it was an

agreement that was reached with the Department of Health and in terms of

that switch towards more resources, it was something that was pushed by

the Department of Health. 4000 agent operations cancelled,

18,000 people in January waiting on trolleys, ?4.6 million cut from

social care, so when those funding levels are discussed with the

Department of Health, will he tell he's -- his colic that he should be

caring for the NHS, not giving it a lethal injection. If they could move

beyond the level of black cord -- Black design, that might help. Let

me be clear we are putting more money in the NHS. The NHS is

providing more support and help to people than it has done before and I

listed some of the achievements since 2010. This Government remains

committed to the NHS and why it has been a priority in our public

spending plans for the last seven years. You need to speed up in terms

of questions and answers. The Government will drive a community

and growth in Yorkshire by investing in its infrastructure, developing

the secures -- is people and its companies. We announced the four

local enterprise partnerships covering Yorkshire will receive ?26

million to back local priorities and support new jobs as well as ?3.7

million extra investment to bolster its resistance. Will the Chancellor

join me in welcoming recent investments by the likes of Boeing

and McLaren in Yorkshire and will he continue to see more

investment it is important we support small and medium enterprises

and the Northern Powerhouse investment fund will have a remit to

support smaller businesses across the North. 14 months after the

devastating storm either floods, it is welcome news for people in my

constituency that a restaurant is opening tomorrow but many other

businesses in my constituency are still struggling with astronomical

increases in the costs of insurance and we still don't have a date for

having proper flood defences in my constituency. What assurance can

make Chancellor give us that will show he has not forgotten about us?

We have put additional money into flood defence spending. I take on

board the comments the honourable lady has made about the delay others

are experiencing and I will look at the fax. In relation to Yorkshire. I

would love to visit that restaurant, by the way. My right honourable

friend will know that Boeing is a major employer in the UK and the

opening of Boeing Sheffield as it is going to be known as, is a major

manufacturing plant which is the only one of its type to be

introduced into Europe. Is this not a major endorsement by Boeing of

post-Brexit Britain? It is an endorsement by a global

company, our major vote of confidence in the British economy.

It is also of course a reflection of this government's policy that where

we place large contract for military equipment, as we have done with

Boeing, we will insist on some compensating investment in our

economy, so that investment in our military capability pays for jobs,

skills and investment in the UK. The Chancellor referred to the let's.

Will see look at what further powers can be given to the LEPS, regarding

deciding priorities for regional infrastructure investment and also

the skills agenda? Will he bring them together to talk about what

needs to be done in terms of prioritising the potential we have

four at in word investment in terms of Brexit? We are keen on LEPs

across Britain working together. These large pots of devolved funding

including some of the money I announced in the Autumn Statement,

ensuring it can be used across an economic geography coherently. I

would encourage them to work together. Yorkshire is home to some

of the country's finest financial institutions, the Yorkshire bank and

the Yorkshire Building Society. Like all financial institutions in the

UK, they will be keen to understand what the government's plans are

regarding Brexit? We need to know how things will be made certain.

These are reasonable questions. Can we start to have some answers? They

are perfectly reasonable questions. I'm not sure the Skipton building

society is holding its breath on how equivalence will work. But these are

matter for negotiation. If we end up with an equivalence regime to allow

financial services and businesses to continue to trade in the European

Union, it will be important that is an equivalence regime based on

objective criteria, not political criteria. So long as our regulatory

regimes are in fact equivalent, we can be confident of being able to

continue to trade. As honourable members will know, national

insurance contributions are primarily used to fund state

pensions. A portion is used for the NHS. Beyond that, the government's

plans to ringfence national insurance contributions for health

and social care. Thank you for the answer. Can she look into this as a

means of deep politicising the debate and ensuring long-term

funding not just today but for decades to come for health and

social care. I understand her core point. The government has taken

action to ensure the NHS has the funding it needs by increasing its

annual budget by ?10 billion above inflation by 2021. Were mindful of

the long-term challenges. If you look at issues recently highlighted

by the Office for Budget Responsibility in the latest fiscal

sustainability report, the laid out quite starkly. In terms of deed

politicising, backing the NHS' own plan for its future in the way that

we have done is the best way to do that. In 2010, I proposed a

compulsory care levy. At the time, Conservative ministers showed

pictures of my gravestone and called it a death tax. I read in the Times

newspaper today that conservatives are considering it. Can this

possibly be true? No. Given the fact we have the benevolent care fund, if

he has any wriggle room in the forthcoming budget, can I ask him if

he cannot have some transitional relief for social care until we can

work out the best moral? The government has been clear on a

number of occasions. We recognise that the pressures on the system,

additional money has been made available through the social care

precept. We are well aware of the pressures on the system as my

honourable friend has said. His point is well made. How can it be

right for those local authorities that are under the most pressure in

terms of social care can raise the least amount through the council tax

precept that this government's policy around social care has

produced. East Riding Council can raise 56% more than half and yet

it's demand is less. The better care fund adjusts for that and there are

a range of ways in which we are responding to these pressures which

we acknowledge in the social care system. We recognise the need to

enhance public infrastructure across all regions of the UK. In the Autumn

Statement la Stuart Kuttner we announced new capital for the

productivity fund. We are spending ?1.1 billion on local projects to

improve our existing transport networks. As the UK automotive

sector continues to embrace new technologies, ensuring the necessary

energy supplies are in place is of increasing importance. What support

can the government give to the Midlands regarding electric

vehicles? The Midlands is home to some of the world's leading

automotive manufacturing and is also home to some cutting-edge battery

technology research, including by the Warwick Manufacturing group at

Warwick University. He is right. If we are going to electrify the

vehicle fleet, we have to also make sure that clean, sustainable,

reliable supplies of electricity are available to meet the needs of the

economy in the 21st century and our national Infrastructure Plan does

exactly that. Yorkshire will no longer benefit from EU structural

funding. How will the Chancellor meet this shortfall? As we have made

clear, the arrangements we have with the European Union and with any of

the organisations and funds that the European Union operates remain to be

discussed during the negotiation phase. If he is right and we end up

not participating in such arrangements in the future, we will

clearly have to make separate similar arrangements on a UK only or

indeed on an individual nation within the UK basis. Alongside

large-scale investment infrastructure such as the

Thameslink upgrades, relatively small amounts of money on local

roads and station facilities can rapidly improve journey times and

therefore boost productivity? I agree. It is often the smaller local

projects that deliver the greatest benefit. They don't have the same

kind of grandstanding possibilities around them and therefore they are

not always quite as favoured. They are often the most effective way of

intervening. They can often be delivered very quickly by local

levels of government. The Chancellor simply did not answer my friend for

Barnsley. The UK Government's funding and investment in London has

always way outstripped any other region. The OECD says that we have

had no regional policy since 2010. What will happen in investment in

the north when Brexit occurs? We will continue to invest in our

economy and the distribution of that investment will be in accordance

with the government's priorities. I think she should look at the

industrial strategy paper that has been published and she should look

at statements that the government has made, including around the

national infrastructure, the National productivity fund that we

announced in the autumn. We are committed to infrastructure

development in all regions of the UK. That is a key element of our

productivity agenda. In order to effectively support infrastructure

investment, we will meet ups kill our workforce to deliver the kinds

of projects we need. Especially regarding high-tech projects. Does

the Chancellor agree that we need investment now to get the skills

pipeline filled. I will take that as a budget representation. Yes, I do

agree. We set out and Autumn Statement how we would increase

investment in infrastructure. That is one of the challenges we face in

raising this country's productivity. Skills is another. The deal in

Swansea has the ability to boost productivity. The proposals have

support of the Welsh Government, universities and local companies.

When can we expect support from the government? Discussions are ongoing.

I hope it will be concluded within the next eight days. I note the

constructive meeting we had yesterday with representatives from

across the beer and Pub sector. The Treasury has received representation

from a number of other organisations and individuals with suggestions for

what should be in the budget, including on beer duty. The pub and

the beer industry contribute 10 billion in tax and employ 1 million

people. In the last government, we have cut beer duty. Will she

consider cutting beer duty? Of course we recognise the contribution

of the beer and pubs industry across the UK. In particular, I am aware

from my previous job the role that pubs have in promoting responsible

drinking. It is worth noting that the public finances as soon alcohol

duties rise by RPI each year, so there is a cost to freezing or

lowering beer duty. Labour's law cider duty has led to a fantastic

renaissance of cider drinking and orchard planting in England. If the

differential is lowered further, it will do untold damage. I am well

aware of the sensitivities around the duty bands and we have received

a number of representations. I'm very aware of the Renaissance in the

industry the honourable gentleman referred to, but also in the number

of micro-breweries and the flourishing investment in that area.

That have been an number of good news stories in this sector in

recent years. Super-strength white ciders are very harmful and cheap.

Will the government take seriously minimum unit price of alcohol? I am

extremely well aware of the points he makes, not least because of the

role I last held in government, and we look carefully at all these

things, particularly regarding white cider. The government continues to

support small businesses to access the finance the need to grow through

the British business bank, which is supporting almost ?3.4 billion of

finance, 254,000 smaller businesses. In the Autumn Statement, I asked for

an additional ?400 million of funding for the bank. We doubled the

small business rates relief. 600,000 small businesses occupy a third of

all business properties and will pay no rates at all. The Federation of

small business has researched into this and has said over a third of

small businesses expect to see an increase in rates as of April. In my

constituency, it has led to businesses telling me the expect to

see jobs and businesses cut. Will he now commit to writing the wrong in

his budget and will he support Labour's 5-point plan to help small

businesses through the revaluation? The last thing small businesses

needed help from the Labour Party. That would be the final straw for

most of them. As we have already said, we recognise some small

businesses are facing substantial percentage increases, even when the

amounts may not be very large. That is difficult for businesses to

absorb. We have committed to coming forward with the proposal that will

address those most hard-hit by that phenomenon. The actual business

rates payable by Tesco five minutes walk from the centre is ?220 per

square metre where as the delicatessen in the centre of town

will pay ?500 per square metre. Isn't this system of rating

valuation needing to be re-examined? It is what it is and reflects the

rental value of properties. I would readily acknowledge that in an

economy which is changing shape rapidly, where the Digital economy

plays a larger role and where some of our prisoners -- biggest

businesses are not based on bricks and mortar, there are some

significant challenges for us. We need to look at them. In the

short-term and medium term, business rates play a vital role in providing

revenue to the Exchequer and from 2020, it will be used to support

local authorities. In York, many businesses playing -- paying

inflated rates but from overseas landlords putting up the rateable

value and business rates are sky-high. The revaluation has caused

some businesses to have it increase in detriment to the local economy

and the high street. But the Treasury work to put a review on the

business rate system because the model is broken? I will say

something more about the medium and longer term challenges around

business rates when I deliver my budget of the House next week. She

would not want to alarm anybody in her constituency and she will know

that nobody will see their rates bill go up by 600%. Nobody will see

their rates bill go up by 600% and the damping mechanism make that

clear. Rateable values may go up by very significant amounts but I will

have more to say next week about this. I welcome the Chancellor's

promise to explain more in the budget next week as to what he will

be doing about about business rates but does he recognise that in taxing

our towns and villages around the UK, he is in danger of changing the

culture at the heart of our community and not just raising money

for the Exchequer? I recognise the concern my honourable friend

outlines and it is for this reason as well as for reasons of the

economic sustainability of individual businesses that we have

said we will look at how we can best help those most seriously affected.

Excellent businesses like dams bakery, Railway Tavern and Elsie's

Kevin in areas like Crouch end have made representations. Can he confirm

he will look at the business rates evaluation? What I can do is look at

the business rates play valuation. That is an independent exercise that

is undertaken by the valuation office agency. If past experience is

anything to go by, of the 2 million business properties revalued, 1

million will lodge appeals. There will be a process of reviewing the

way the valuations have been conducted. What I have said I will

do is look at those small businesses who are facing the largest increases

and see how we can help them. Can I welcome the Chancellor's commitment

to look again at small business rates, taxation and the budget. The

big four supermarkets are getting a 6.9% cut in their business rates.

Come the Chancellor consider setting that at zero and using that money to

soften the blow on small businesses? I don't think that is the way to

proceed. The business rates revaluation reflects the underlying

value premises and it is an inconvenient fact that some large

organisations have premises in low belly areas and some small

organisations have premises in high-value areas. The Chancellor was

right to talk about access to finance but most small businesses

require and depend on lending from safe high street banks. Can I ask

the Chancellor what discussions he has had with the banks to ensure

they remain safe and continue to fund small businesses to benefit

from the other fiscal measures? Dealing with the high-street banks,

different high-street brands have different models but we have

high-street banks who are progressively pursuing small and

medium enterprise customers. I mean seeking their business, actively

seeking their business. It is also important that we diversify the

range of financing options available to small and medium enterprises and

that is one of the reasons why we have pushed money through the small

business bank to the media rates that can get equity and debt finance

out to small and medium... The Chancellor will have seen the

worrying signals from the US that the new President intends to roll

back some of the regulation put in place to make banks safer. Can we

have an assurance today that he doesn't intend to play follow my

leader and deregulate the banks are necessarily here? We have a banking

regulation system in the UK that does ensure our banks are safe and

that it is tackling the two big to fail culture. We have a high level

of confidence in our banking system and the reserve ratios of our banks

are improving consistently. We don't want to do anything that would

undermine that. Thank you for allowing me to join in today. The

FSB has found over a third of small businesses will see significant

increase in business rates whereas their four big superstores may see a

5.9% reduction. Over 55% of those small businesses plan to reduce,

postpone or cancel further investment. If the Chancellor is

serious about addressing productivity, can he confirm what

additional transitional relief you will provide to businesses facing a

cliff edge? She is only repeating what I have acknowledged. Many small

businesses that would be seeing big increases will be seeing them

because they are coming out of small business rates relief and are facing

the full rates regime for the first time. We understand the stress at

that point as they come out of small business rates relief and we will be

looking at how best we can address those who are worst affected by that

phenomenon. The Government is taking action to give the UK the world's

leading infrastructure it needs. The 1.7 billion superfast broadband

programme will extend coverage to 95% of UK promises by the end of

2017. We live in a period of unprecedented technological change

and the Government should foster it in rural and urban areas. Can the

secretary confirm that he will resist the cause of a new generation

of Luddites to tax robots? I was going to make a joke about the Lib

Dems but as they aren't in the Chamber, I will merely reassure my

honourable friend that the Government has no current plans to

introduce a robot tax. Current tax rules don't allow companies to set

against tax the cost of research into mathematics. This is very out

of date in an era of data signs and it is difficult from science and

engineering. Good ministers take this as a budget representation

please? We have significantly increased the tax credits and as a

mathematician, I would agree that maths is always important. I would

like to group this question would question 13. We recognise that the

need to increase public spending on infrastructure is at the heart of

our productivity agenda. That is why at Autumn Statement 2016 we

committed ?23 billion additional capital to this. Commitment is made

at Spending Review 2015, this means central Government investment in

economic structure will rise by 60% between 2016/17 and 2020, 2021 from

?14 billion to ?22 billion. I'm delighted the Chancellor has

announced a ?25.7 million investment in Stubbington bypass. I commend my

neighbour for her work. This is a great example of partnership and

will be at catalyst for boosting jobs and creating jobs. At the

bypass was well worth waiting for. It will support greater than

development by improving access to the motor may Wake Road 27 and A27,

allowing much-needed investment, creating new jobs but also enabling

the development of 900 new homes. Where we can get transport

infrastructure investment to perform, but also to help lower open

up Langford of element for new homes, that is a double here. Can he

confirm there will be infrastructure bonds and will he meet with funders

to attract -- discuss their retractions? That is the lowest cost

to the public purse. The Treasury does support bonds issued by the

private sector through the UK guarantee scheme and that scheme

will be extended. It has played a vital role in underwriting and

guaranteeing finance for products. It allows a large number of projects

without the Government guarantee. I agree on this answer. What steps has

he taken to support and facilitate -- facilitate with them while

Scotland on the lagoon project in Swansea following the Hendry review?

We have received the Spending Review report and we are considering the

merits of this and we are discussing it with the Welsh Government. Why

does he believe the balance of infrastructure spending between the

North and South East is fair? The Government is committed to

addressing the infrastructure needs across the whole of the UK. We will

look at how best to use the available infrastructure funds based

on their value for money of the projects that are brought forward.

Different regions of the country will receive different allegations

according to the projects available in them for development. We have to

be sensitive to the fact that lots of the -- lots of other people are

trying to get in. It is knowing that other people want to take part. It

is an elementary point. The Treasury discusses social care funding with

the Department of Health and the Department for Communities and Local

Government. We have introduced so cool -- social care presets and a

grant for social care. Taken together those provided ?7.6 billion

of dedicated funding for social care means councils can afford to

increase spending on social care every year. The lack of funding for

social care is having a devastating impact on those requiring care,

carers and workers themselves. A 3% levy raises 2.8 million pounds watch

Dale. It doesn't cover the cost of increasing the minimum wage for care

workers. How does the Minister access that? It is not just about

the council tax precept but we have got the better care fund coming in.

We should accept this isn't just about money. There is a performance

around the country and it is worth pointing out 50% of delayed

discharges attributed to social care and they take place in only 24 local

authority areas. Summaries have taken the difficult decision to

increase council tax by 3% to protect social care including the

island. Would the Secretary of State can -- consider finding ways to

ensure councils have done all they can to help themselves and to

recognise any Government support is made available now? My honourable

friend raises an important point. There is a considerable amount of

discretion of the local authorities in how much they want to prioritise

social care. What is clear is the Government has given local

authorities greater flexibility in terms of the council tax precept.

In Number Ten. The government is focused on establishing city deals

in Scotland. The government has published its White Paper on this

strategy and is engaging with the Scottish Government. Having heard

earlier of the investment in Yorkshire, what yet knowledge the

Ayrshire growth deal would drive growth? As I have said before, we

are focusing on city deals on cities. If the Scottish Government

wishes to take forward projects to enable growth in Ayrshire, then it

is able to do so. The UK's wine industry benefited from a duty frees

of budget in 2015. The English wine industry is growing

from strength to strength. In Sussex, there are five award-winning

vineyards. At 2% reduction in duty would generate an extra ?358 million

for the Treasury. Will it be considered next week in the budget?

I heard these arguments directly from the Wine and spirits

Association recently, along with parliamentary representatives from

the all-party group. I listened carefully to the budget

representations. We are ambitious for the deal. It is clear that in

the interests of both sides, it is the end result which is important.

US banks can locate subsidiaries in the UK and trade freely across

Europe. What are the prospects for keeping all those jobs in the UK

after Brexit? We want to ensure that British companies have the maximum

freedom to trade and operate within European markets. Financial services

is one of the areas where we have bold and ambitious agreement that we

will be seeking. As the Minister continues his discussions on

passports, will he ensure he maintains dialogue with trade bodies

to make sure we have the best possible settlement? The Treasury is

listening. We want the best possible deal and we should be clear, it is

the end result not the mechanism which is important. I'm pleased to

say the government is taking action. It is forecast to be 2.8% higher in

2021 than last year. There can be fewer things more tragic than a

treasury department in denial. The collapse of the pound will lead to

higher prices in food and household technology. When will his department

get their head out of the sand and bring forward proposals to help

boost disposable income so that people can meet rising costs.

Average earnings growth has now it stripped growth for 27 consecutive

months. The recent figures for the ONS say that exports have grown and

imports have fallen. Is not good for jobs and the economy and for a

People's employment? It is good for jobs and the economy and indeed in

Scotland for the Scottish whiskey industry. Topical questions. Lucy

Powell. As we approach the beginning of the UK's negotiations with the

European Union, my responsible -- principal responsibility maintains

delivering principal measures regarding resilience in our economy.

The package I announce next week will meet this objective. Going to a

four day week is an option some hard-pressed schools are having to

consider. Will the Chancellor use his budget to invest in our future,

reduced the productivity gap and ensure we have a high wage high

skill economy? There was a slight disconnect in those questions, but I

will do those things. Dealing with the skills gap will be at the centre

of the budget. What steps is the government taking to support

economic growth through investment in the transport infrastructure and

also support for small businesses? The government is taking forward

plans for the lower Thames crossing, as well as major road upgrades. We

are establishing a Thames Estuary growth commission to set out a

commission for growth in that area. Last week, the government denied

disabled people access to payments. The previous Chancellor absorb the

costs last year. Are disabled people being denied benefits because the

Chancellor is refusing to absorb these costs of the tribunal

decision? We are restoring parliament's original intention

around these payments, ensuring they go to the people that they were

intended to go to and making sure that the benefits cat that is in

place, part of our fiscal rules, is able to be met. One of those people

contacted us. She has diabetes, depression and anxiety. She will not

be extended support the courts have awarded her. After the announcement

last night of further austerity measures by individual departments,

this government is about forcing departments to meet spending targets

to support his tax giveaways to the wealthy. Cutting the top rate of

income tax to 40p in this Parliament. Otherwise it is clear he

will want tax giveaways for the wealthy few and austerity for the

most vulnerable in our society. You will have to wait until next week to

find out what my proposals are. Let me be clear. We have said we have no

plans for further welfare reforms in this Parliament. The welfare reforms

we have legislated for have to be delivered. Original intent of

Parliament in legislating those reforms has to be insured. In

constituencies in London suburbs like mine, ordinary family homes are

cot by the upper level of stamp duty land attack. If people are not

moving at that level, they are not moving further down. Is it time to

look again at the unintended consequences of the upper level

stamp duty tax? Reforms were adjusted for the vast majority of

home buyers in 2014. All transactions up to ?937,000 note pay

the same or less in stamp duty land tax. I am aware of the phenomenon he

describes. We really don't have a clear consensus of the market impact

of the higher rate of STL tea for properties at the upper end.

Systemic maltreatment of businesses requires action. Does the Chancellor

accept there is a case for imposing a duty of care on banks with their

dealings with small or medium-sized enterprises. This is carefully being

considered and it would not be appropriate for me to comment whilst

this process is ongoing. I have been conducting a survey in my

constituency. Many people have raised concerns about road safety in

our towns and villages. Could he informed me of any additional

funding available for road safety? She makes an important point. Road

safety is a key priority for the ?15.2 billion road investment

strategy. It's also a case that in November we announced additional

?175 million to improve the most dangerous roads in the country.

Cardinal has received ?70 million from the local growth fund,

including for local roads investment. Today we find that

Casemiro has paid zero in corporation tax. What more is the

Chancellor going to do to stop profit-making companies avoiding tax

on his watch? I can't discuss the affairs of an individual taxpayer in

this House. This government and its immediate predecessor have taken

more steps over seven years than the previous government did over its

whole 13 years in office to address abuse of the tax system and

aggressive tax avoidance. -- Cafe Nero. In the past year,

international tourist rates and spend grew faster in the south-west

than London. Given the Mayor of London's plans for a Hotel Levy,

will the Chancellor look again at cutting the rate of VAT on tourism?

I agree that when a man is tired of London he can visit Somerset. While

tourism growth across the UK is indeed very welcome and the

government will look at all opportunities to support it,

reducing VAT would cost up to ?10 billion. Money which is needed to

underpin our public services and help to deal with our deficit. Can I

urge the Chancellor to listen regarding funding local authorities?

I will take those comments as a budget submission and will pass it

on to the Secretary of State for communities and local. Billions of

pounds in VAT on customs duties is not accounted for. Will he look into

the case at Amazon and eBay that the Treasury gets the money they are

entitled? The measures are forecast to raised ?875 million by 2021 and I

would update the host to the fact that HMRC has already seen over the

last year more than a tenfold increase in online non-EU businesses

applying to register for VAT. Before the election, his predecessor

pledged support for improvements to the real line between London and

Brighton. The report was never released. It will be released

shortly. Even a small amount of household debt can turn out to be

unaffordable for many. It can turn into a personal financial nightmare

for them and their families. When will the Treasury response to the

excellent breathing space proposals to help people who are really trying

to get on top of their household debts and give them statutory

protection from scrupulous ruthless loners? We will report in due course

shortly. Unsecured consumer credit is rising now at a level last seen

before at the banking crisis. Does the Chancellor accept that is

unsustainable? It cannot go on forever. Households have some

capacity for debt and consumer borrowing and consumer spending has

been an important component of the robustness of the economy over the

last few months. What I hope to see during 2017 is business investment

and exports providing a greater share of the growth during this

year. I welcome this government's healthy commitment to scientific

spending over the last several years. It seems the business --

business investment is below the OECD average. Will he look at

measures to increase private company business expenditure on research?

As the Chancellor announced, the Government is increasing investment

in RND come rising to ?2 billion a year. We have made the RND tax

regime much more generous. We want to make sure the UK remains an

attractive place. Given the neglect of social care spending in the

Autumn Statement, and the straws in the wind that will be put right in

the budget, will the Chancellor take account of the fact that in

authorities like Wirral, we are having to deal with ?45 billion of

depression because of our older people needing help. The increasing

council tax will deliver us 22 million. I find it best not to

comment on straws in the wind but I would say I recognise the pressure

that many authorities are under from underlying democratic -- demographic

trends. We are alert to that concern and we will seek to address it in a

sensible and measured way. For people moving into residential care

homes, the means tests take into account the value of their home but

if they were applying for a carer in the own home, the means test does

not take into account the value of their home. Does the Chancellor

agree there should be one system of means testing, whatever state

funding people are applying for? Persist that my honourable friend

refers to has been around for many years and predates the purchase

agreements which all local authorities to people contributing

to their care. We need to look not just at individual specific aspects

of this challenge but we need to look broadly at the question of

making social care funding sustainable for the future in the

face of a rapidly ageing population. Since 1994, the Government has

received ?10 billion pension cash which could have benefited miners.

The Treasury which says 153 million will be pocketed in the next three

years. Will the Chancellor use the budget to look again at the

injustice of the mine workers pension scheme? I have to say I

don't recognise the numbers the honourable lady has given to the

House but I will look at them and I will write to her accordingly. If

that -- estate agents report that the number of transactions prime

properties in London and elsewhere has fallen by 50% last year and the

beginning of this year is even worse than the year before. If it were

proven that tax revenues had fallen as a result of this profit --

policy, would he be willing to review and change it? We have

mentioned that there isn't a consensus of -- on what the data is

saying but we keep them under constant review. Oil and gas

received a passing mention in the industrial strategy and it was

classed as a low priority in terms of the Brexit negotiations. Could

the Chancellor commit to doing something to support the future of

the oil and gas industry in the budget next week? She will have to

wait and see that I am well aware of the concerns the industry is

expressing. She has met with industry representatives and we

understand what their principles are. Will he give a guarantee to the

House that the details of the budget will be first revealed to this house

and that we will not find out the details in the budget in this

weekend's press? What I can do is give my honourable friend a

guarantee that I will follow all proper procedures. I can't give him

a guarantee that my following all probably sieges will lead to the

outcome that he seeks. The former Chancellor said we -- withdrawn from

the single market will be the biggest neglect of protectionism in

the history of the UK and the Government has chosen not to make

the Government priority. Is he launching a soft coup or has he got

this Government bank to write for his economic vandalism? The

gentleman understands very well that being a member of the single market

was not an option for the UK given the clear views expressed by the

electorate in the referendum. Having comprehensive access to the single

market will deliver the great majority of the benefits that the

honourable gentleman seeks from single market membership. 100,000 UK

businesses are registered companies in the Republic of Ireland to hedge

their best -- that's about the policy uncertainty caused by the

Vote Leave the European Union. Can he urges Cabinet colleagues to give

policy and regulatory certainty to industries like the chemical

industry who want waiting to see what the Government is doing but

simply haemorrhaging jobs and investment out of this country? I

agree that certainty as soon as possible is important and

understanding what is implement -- what is implemented will look like

and what timescale is also important. I would urge her not to

be hysterical about these things. Many companies are making

contingency plans, including setting up and incorporating subsidiaries in

other European Union countries. It is another step altogether to be

moving jobs and enterprises abroad. Most of the companies we talked to

have made clear there is more time yet for them to be reassured Jim

this process before we see a revocable moves. The Treasury

supported a launch assessment infrastructure report. It states

clear where carbon capture and storage is required. Will the

Treasury do the right thing and reinstate the funding for carbon

capture storage? I was talking about carbon capture and storage and it is

a matter for my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State and I

will raise with him the point of the honourable gentleman has made. If it

flows from discussions, point of order, Mary Creagh. In response to

my question, the Chancellor of the Exchequer accuse me of being

hysterical. Can we have a ruling from you as to whether this sort of

sexist language to use to diminish women who make a reasonable point,

that is the language that would not