Treasury Questions House of Commons

Hello, good morning and welcome to

our live coverage of the House of

Commons. MPs return to the detail of

the European Union withdrawal bill

with the first of two days of debate

to cover the remaining stages in the

Commons before the bill goes to the

Lords at the end of the month.

Ministers have tabled a series of

amendments that will limit their

ability to use Henry VIII powers to

an end EU rules and regulations than

they are transferred into the UK

statutory book. Votes are expected

at 4pm and 7pm today. Do join me for

a round-up of the day in bed houses

of parliament at 11pm tonight at

first the questions to the

Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip

Hammond and his charity team. -- and

his Treasury team.

Order, order. Questions to the

Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Number

one. Could I firstly can graduate my

honourable friend trolley working as

done to promote marriage and civil

partnerships and all the benefits

are two families in wider society is

thereof and can I assure him that

the design of the marriage allowance

is such that it will indeed continue

to rise as the Raby personal balance

as they did in the recent budget?

Thank you. Given me £48 billion of

cost to the Exchequer from family

breakdown, will my honourable friend

meet me and a delegation to discuss

how we can further strengthen this

three tax system to help you of what

they own.

My honourable friend is

pushing in a direction in which we

have already travelled in the last

budget, making provision for

ensuring that those who have been

married or in a civil partnership

and have a deceased partner are able

to claim the marriage allowance and

bank date and claim some full years

and I will of course be happy to

meet with him and his colleagues to

discuss this matter further. -- four

year.

In April, the national living

wage will write to £7 83. In total

that means an annual pay rise of

over £2000 for a full-time national

living wage workers since it was

introduced in 2016. It has helped

reduce the proportion of full-time

jobs that although page to the

lowest level in at least 20 years.

Sustaining long-term pay growth

relies on improving productivity and

that is why we have increased the

national productivity investment

fund to over £31 billion Enviro

taking further action on skills,

retraining and capital investment as

they build a bridge and fit for the

future.

Thank you. The Chancellor

tell the house whether income in a

quality has gone up or down since

2012 -- inequality has gone up since

2010 and how does it compare to the

last Labour governments?

Income

inequality is lower than it was in

22 in -- 2010 and remains lower than

it has at any point during the last

Labour governments. The coefficient

and international recognised measure

of coefficient inequality is now

lower by 20% and in 2010. Since my

statement in 2016, Wien increased

the tax contributions of the highest

earners while those on low incomes

have gained overall. -- we have

increased.

Thank you. The problem

the coming constituencies like mine

where more and more people have to

go to food banks, what is being done

in terms of economic development of

the country to assure that they get

better paid jobs in places that

deprived like Holden? -- like

Halton.

Good point. Better wages can

only be increased through increased

productivity meaning investment in

infrastructure, skills in training,

research and development both public

funding and tax incentives for

private funding and it means

ensuring that capital is available

for businesses to invest in the

equipment that already productivity

of their workers. The governments's

ambition is for a high wage, high

skill economy and we are investing

to deliver that.

Can the Chancellor

confirmed that the lowest paid have

in fact been a 7% real term wage

increase since 2015 and inequality

is now at its lowest level in 20

years?

My honourable friend is

right. Income inequality is lower

than at any point during the Labour

governments as I have said already.

People in full-time work on a

national living wage and then a

£2000 per year pay increase as a

result of the national living wage

and of course everyone in work has

seen an improved take home pay as a

result of the significant increases

in the person not an ounce which

this governments committed to and

which is delivering.

They can fly's

a living wage is a pretender living

wage and is not available to those

of the age of 25. Can he explain why

the wage gap in the minimum wage has

increased in his budget between £3

45 previously to £3 63 between

25-year-olds and 16-17 -year-olds.

How does that work every one of the

youngest are not being paid equally?

The... Rates for people under 25

have been increase in the budget by

the biggest amount ever.

The gap.

Of

course we want to see high rates of

employment and high rates of pay

across all age groups in the economy

but for young people, the most

important thing, the most important

thing and be a low pay commission

has highlighted this fact, the most

important thing is that they get

into work because by being in work

when they are young, they are more

likely to remain in sustainable work

throughout their lifetime.

Number

three.

Thank you. Her Majesty's Treasury

regularly engages with the airline

industry an air passenger duty. Any

autumn budget, we froze 20 APD rates

at all 19 levels for short haul

passengers on long haul a cunning

passages. This provided a freeze for

95% of passengers.

May I

congratulate my honourable friend on

his appointment? He will be aware

that airlines such as FlyBe based at

Exeter Airport to undertake a lot of

domestic flights are hit twice by

APD to take off and landing on

international flights. Treasury

officials with a new minister will

tell him that any change is

impossible but as they exit the EU,

is this an anomaly something you

will look at with a view to changing

it?

I'm grateful to my honourable

friend press kind remarks. Can I pay

to beat my predecessor, a member for

Harrogate, Lingo is well regarded

across the house as my honourable

friend says, the Government is

unable to exempt the return leg of a

drastic flight. Of course, as they

leave the European Union, lanky

change in the Treasury will keep

that under consideration but we

certainly recognise the economic

significance of regional airports

like his own in Exeter and that is

why we have kept short-haul rates

frozen since 2012 and in 2015...

The

governments's own figures show

Newcastle Airport will be most

affected by any car to edit larger

tax in Scotland and the continued

uncertainty on this issue is

incredible damaging. -- any cuts.

Have any progress being made and

Abbey in a position to confirm our

regional airports will be protected

in the effects of those cuts?

You

honourable lady is right thing is

because Newcastle Airport and others

are important to the economy of the

north-east and as she has heard in

my response to the prior question,

the EU rules to prevent us from

changing the rules with regards to

the return leg of a domestic flight.

We will keep this under

consideration and we have taken

other important steps such as

keeping the rate frozen, exempting

children and it is wrote saying that

air passenger duty races over £3

billion per year so it does make an

important contribution.

There are

substantial benefits to reducing and

taking away passenger duty, with

response to GDP and too risen. In

Northern Ireland, it particularly

distorts trade between ourselves and

the Irish Republic. There was a

commitment in the budget to have a

review. Could we have an update on

where that review on our passenger

duty is?

IAM grateful to my

honourable friend for that question.

As he knows, we are committed not

just do passenger duty but too risen

in Ireland and we will report back

at that review is underway that will

be by the autumn budget this year.

Number four.

My honourable friend

will know there is an exemption in

the charge for inheritance tax for

donations to political parties that

does not exist in relation to

donations to referendum campaigns

but I can inform him that I and my

honourable friend, the Chancellor,

have discussed the issues he has

raised over previous weeks can be

sympathetic to the looking carefully

at how the law may be changed for

future campaign referendums.

Thank

you. In the last nine years, there

have been 23 retroactive tax changes

where there has been a unfairness,

error or unduly odorous taxation. In

1994 when this law was drafted,

there was no idea that there would

be a succession of referendums and

it is deeply unfair that people have

contributed to the referendum in

Scotland and the Brexit referendum

and may find very large tax bill is

winging their way to want them, not

the least as Her Majesty's

governments spent £8 million of

taxpayer money we nearly any Brexit

referendum. -- spent £8 million will

he nilly. Yellow like we do not

change tax retrospectively but my

honourable friend and I will look

very carefully at these issues

raised.

Can I had one further caveat

given that the HM RCR now looking at

all the other referendum that are

taking place? There was also another

issue which, when looking at this,

and without them to take into

consideration and those

organisations that are not charities

but do public dude are now beginning

to be concerned that H M R C will

pursue individuals who have made

individual donations to them but

they are not charities novelist

parties. I wonder of my honourable

friend Woodward at that as well.

He makes an interesting point, they

would like to make representations

on the specific point, I would be

happy to discuss them.

Number five.

Mr Speaker, with your permission, I

would like to answer this question

together with question number ten.

In 2010, we inherited the largest

deficit since the Second World War.

We have successfully reduced that by

three quarters. But our debt is

still too high. High levels of debt

leads us vulnerable to economic

shocks. That is why the Government

has clear and detailed fiscal plans

to reduce borrowing further and

ensure debt falls going forward.

With the Chancellor agree with me

that it's essential to continue to

show that we live within our means,

because the alternative, that

failure to do so, merely passes our

bills onto the next generation?

I

absolutely agree. The policy of

increasing borrowing means passing

the cost of today's consumption on

to future generations and wasting

more taxpayers' money. Even Labour's

shed education spokesman has

acknowledged this is an ultra high

risk strategy, gambling with our

economic future.

Does he agree with

me that that is bad for the economy,

bad for the young people had to pay

the debts, or should they followed

the model shown by the Opposition

that shows all the qualities of the

Parliamentary sewerage system?

I can

agree on that. Any party that

aspires to Government and is serious

about properly managing the public

finances should be able to explain

how it will fund the expenditure

it's committing to, and should be

able to do that without consulting

an iPad.

The Chancellor has said he

doesn't want to income or debt, they

may yesterday the Treasury approved

a minute providing for a contingent

liability on Carillion, in which we

have had no estimate. Did the

Chancellor please explain to the

House what sort of expenditure is

going to be covered? He has given an

indemnity to the receiver. How he is

going to report to the House on how

much money the Government is going

to be liable for?

The Government has

given an indemnity to the official

receiver in order to take on the

role of special manager of the

assets of brilliant firm to ensure

continuity of public services in the

many local authorities that have

contracts with Carillion. What the

Treasury has done is provided the

official receiver with a line of

credit that enables the official

receiver's offers to operate the

company's public sector contracts,

recovering the costs in due course

in the department that would have

paid fees for their services anyway.

The official receiver is only able

to step in and do this with the

Treasury's underwriting, and we

deemed it appropriate to do so.

There is borrowing against the UK

governments, can Chancellor advise

the House what exposure his

Government has from lending to

Carillion?

I'm not aware of any

direct exposure of the Government as

a creditor of Carillion, but I will

check and write to the honourable

gentleman.

We have made good

progress in cutting the deficit, but

the national debt remains a

dangerously high level and will only

start to reduce next year, ten years

after the crash. Cantlay

chancellorship of the House how our

level of national debt and GDP

relate to other major western

economies?

Our debt is too high, and

that matters, in response to the

financial crash of 2009, the

Government was able to allow data to

rise to respond to that situation.

If we had a similar crisis now, we

would be struggling to do that,

because we already have a debt level

that is close to 90% of GDP. It is

necessary to get our debt level down

to greater to deal with any crisis

that comes along in the future,

whether internal or external.

It is

amazing that this Government wants

to plant questions about high levels

of borrowing, given at his most

every single one of its deficit

reduction targets and let us not

forget, this Conservative Government

has borrowed more than any other

Labour Government in history. Under

Labour's fiscal rules, we would

close the deficit in day today

spending over five years. But we

would exclude investment spending

from that figure. Given the

challenges we face in productivity,

challenges the Chancellor has

ordinary mentions, doesn't he

recognise that as a prudent,

sensible way forward?

No, Mr

Speaker, nor do they. At is why they

have already recognised their plans

with developed into a run on the

pound. I will take no lectures from

a party that saw over a 165 present

increase in debt and is proposing to

add more to the data just at the

point when this Government is still

bring a reduction in debt.

Question

six.

Isil data income has fallen

from 152 present at the start of

2010 -- household debt has fallen. I

also note the IFS report on that

same subjects.

I have also read the

IFS report today that highlights

that get is a real problem for a

significant minority of low income

households that are struggling to

pay the bills and debt repayments.

Dusty accept that imposing a freeze

on benefits when inflation is

standing at 3% will make things

tougher for those families?

I also

acknowledge the report points out

the percentage of households with

financial liabilities fell between

June 2010 and June 2014. I would

also say the Government is fully

committed to helping the poorest.

That is why last year the money

advice service gave 440,000 free

client sessions to help those that

are back

the UK has the second

highest level of household debt in

the G8. We have loan sharks

masquerading as has good stores.

Would he agree that we have an

unhealthy addiction to these

services?

The Government have

empowered the independent financial

policy committee advising the

Government on these matters and keep

a close watch on this level of debt.

One trend that alarms me is the

false advertising of consumer credit

rates. Despite having the profit

credit rating, according to

Experian, I was told M&S bank

wouldn't give me the advertised

rate. What is the minister doing to

ensure that the rates advertiser

Brexit Bill what the majority of

customers? -- the rate advertiser

are available to the majority of

customers?

The FCA has a wrist to

ban products and limited fines at

its disposal and can order

repayments. 51 present of applicants

for loans will receive the rate as

advertised, and those returns to

which the FCA Works.

When will

incentives to save exceed those to

borrow?

I clearly don't have a

crystal ball, and as the economy

grows, there are different patterns

of behaviour that will ensure. It is

not for Government to tell people

what to do, what were trying to do

is ensure in economy where people

have the choice.

Is the biggest

worry for so many people I meet. The

figures released by the IFS today

show a third of those on the lowest

income are in net debt. This is

persistent, spiral people get stuck

in four years. What is the UK

Government doing to improve their

financial position of those

households?

We do recognise that, on

occasion, people find themselves

with challenging debt situations.

That is why we committed to a

six-week breathing space and we will

bring that legislation forward in

due course.

If people aged under 45,

over a third live in households that

have a financial wealth of less than

zero. For too many people voters not

enough money at the end of the week.

From next year, individuals in

England will pay more income tax

than if they live in Scotland,

Harris is justified?

The Government

recognises the challenges facing

those on lower salaries, and that is

why we have increased the tax-free

allowance. We have had the eighth

successive fuel duty frees, and does

increase the National Living Wage

above inflation.

The lowest paid

about a pay cut in real terms, -- a

pay increase in real terms, the

Government is helping?

The

Government does not take anything

for granted and will take a close

look at what happens with the

poorest in my, society.

Does the

Minister acknowledged that one of

the reasons for why now a quarter of

people on low incomes are

experiencing significant problems

with arrears or debt repayment is

because his Government has not taken

on board Labour's programmed to rein

in credit card debt, and secondly

because of his changes to the tax

threshold had been outweighed for

the poorest people by alterations to

Social Security?

The honourable lady

needs to acknowledge that the

transformation the National Living

Wage has brought to so many people.

Interest payments as a proportion of

income are currently the lowest on

record.

Question seven.

The UK

internal market benefit all nations

of the UK. The Scottish Government's

own latest figures show that 67% of

Gollum's exports are to the rest of

the UK. -- Scotland's exports. It is

vital that we can double that it is

vital we continue to support these

exports, and that there are no

barriers to living and working in

the UK are created as we meet the

EU.

Does my right honourable friend

agree with me that leaving the UK

single market would pose a far

greater risk to the Welsh, Scottish

and Northern Island economies and

leaving EU single market?

That is

absolutely true that for both

Scotland and Wales plays, making the

UK single market would be far more

economically damaging then leaving

the European single market. Which

does beg the question, why the SNP

has advocated so strongly remaining

in the European single market, but

also advocated so strongly breaking

up the UK?

That would be

interesting, day/night has nothing

to do with Government policy. Are

now very briefly, Chancellor, stick

to your last. Your business, not

theirs.

That is the nicest thing

anyone is likely to say to me today!

The Chancellor is right to extol the

benefits of the UK single markets,

Dame isn't the hypocrisy exposed by

hearing the chief executive of error

bars saying that leaving the

European single market would be

damaging for the UK economy, we

don't have to pick and choose, why

won't he commit to keeping us in the

European single market?

The

honourable gentleman will know that

I arguing for the last year for a

jobs-first Brexit, which means

negotiating the close as possible

relationship with the European Union

are to be leave that union, that is

what we intend to do.

The

contribution of the UK internal

market is of course important to

Wales. The economy of the southeast

England has steamed ahead under this

Government. Will the Jazz a commit

ending this inequality by

rebalancing the UK internal market

and showing it is not based on

Westminster diktats, rather a

partnership?

We have identified

regional disparity as one of the

drivers of low productivity in the

UK, raising the productivity

performance, particularly of our

great cities outside London, is key

to raising UK performance overall.

Question eight.

The decision

announced at the autumn budget

raised £1.2 billion to the Welsh

Government's budgets, including over

£65 billion -- six £5 million thanks

to the Barnett Formula. This ensures

the block grant will increase.

The headline grabbing announcement

in the budget was the alleged £1.2

million uplift repeated by the

Chancellor in his answer, to the

Welsh finances. This is an example

of financial trickery similar to the

big red buses. This is not true that

this is half made up in the form of

loans?

I do not agree with the

analysis and be slightly cavalier

attitude to £650 million of taxpayer

money. This money is at the disposal

of the Welsh Government and can be

used for important things like

helping to support businesses and

get on the property ladder to help

to buy.

Given last week, for the

first time ever, the tools on the

Severn crossing went down, there was

going to be greater demand for use

of the M4 but since 2012, the Labour

Welsh Government have done nothing

about using the public money

available to it to expending the M4.

Is not the case that public money

should be spent on this and it is

available in Wales from this

governments.

My honourable friend

makes a good point and as I said in

the answer to previous question, we

have increased the budget for Welsh

Government. How they choose to spend

that and how wisely they do it is

another question.

Number nine.

Chief

Secretary.

The unemployment rate is

now the lowest since 1975. 300

million people more in jobs since

2010. That means the ability to use

their talents, to support their

families and to get on in life.

She

was so excited to report that

banshee neglected to group that.

My

apologies, I would like to group it.

Well my honourable friends work with

me to see how Ireland could benefit

from enterprises in the Medina

Valley helping to drive the jobs and

wealth creation agenda on the Isle

of Wight?

My honourable friend does

a fantastic job of cat Chappell the

Isle of Wight since 2010 -- of

championing the Isle of Wight. We

have seen a reduction in the Isle of

Wight, many issues need addressed to

make sure the economy on the Isle of

Wight is competitive and dynamic. Of

course, the Isle of Wight ferry is a

very important service and we need

to make sure that the competition

and market authority have the tools

to deal with that but I'm very happy

to meet my honourable friend to talk

about what more region do to boost

the Isle of Wight. You like thank

you. I'm the chairman of the

all-party group of youth employment

in the track he figures. Good my

honourable friend talk about job

creation and welfare are

dependencies in 2010?

I congratulate

my honourable friend on his work

and, since 2010, we have seen a 40%

reduction in youth unemployment. If

you compare that with what happened

under the Labour governments while

during an economic boom, youth

unemployment rose and those young

people were left on the scrapheap

rather than joining apprenticeships

and getting the training

opportunities under the governments.

Thank you. He was a reality check

for the minister. Limited well-paid

jobs, record levels of in work

poverty coupled with this

governments's unflinching assault on

the welfare safety net has

contributed to the UN estimating

there are 8 million households in

the UK who are food insecure. My

bill will robustly measure and lead

to policy development that will

eradicate hunger. Why about our

governments back it?

And surprise

the honourable lady isn't interested

in the news you heard earlier which

is those on the lowest incomes have

seen a 7% real terms pay rise since

2015 which will enable those people

to help support their families.

Would eg secretary agree with me

that one of the best ways of

creating employment is to signify

the tax structures, help small and

medium-sized enterprises to create

employment right across the United

Kingdom?

The honourable gentleman is

absolutely right and it is because

this governments have cut red tape,

we have cut taxes, we have cut basic

rate tax by £1000 for working

people. That encourages more people

to get jobs and introduce more

companies to take people on the land

that is why these economic success

they are.

Transport for the north

today have published their strategic

plan which forecasts a new jobs of

the plans are delivered. The

document is disappointing for

cleaver and Northern Lincolnshire.

More investment in transport any

north will provide those jobs. Can

the Minister given insurance that

resources will be available to

deliver this plan?

I'm pleased to

say we are investing a record amount

in economic infrastructure of the

EIS has said it would be a 40 year

hide by the end of the period of

this Parliament and in particular we

are giving money to other cities

like this. We allocated over £1

billion for that reason at the

beginning of the budget.

There are

thousands of Pirelli and the workers

who will turn up tomorrow I'm sure

of having a job. -- Carillion

workers. Carillion workers face cuts

to pensions and hundreds more firms

along the supply chain also

uncertain about their future. The

judicial role that the Treasury is

to protect our public finances. Will

the minister and Alex went to the

house what involvement the Treasury

had with the thousands of contracts

held by Carillion at the time of its

liquidation? We now Treasury proof

is required for these PFI contracts.

Can the Minister tell the house how

many PSI and PFI to contract was

signed by Treasurer during the

current time in the office of the

Chancellor? What'll happen to those

contracts and staff working on them?

There are loud and clear arena

signed about Carillion and why

instead of intervening, that the

Treasury of ministers collusion in

drip feeding more contracts to

Carillion to boycott and the three

failing company? -- to the buoy up a

failing company.

We are upset by

what happened at Carillion and we

will ensure those people have the

support of job centres to make sure

we continue to supply those public

services. It would be completely

wrong for a company that has got

itself in this they to be bailed out

by the state and that is what we are

not doing. We're making sure we

continue to supply those services at

the same time as helping people who

are working for those companies but

also continuing to supply public

services as they do that. If we get

the record of contracting, a third

of those contracts were signed the

previous Labour governments. One of

the most recent contracts was signed

by a Labour led Leeds City Council.

The fact is that we have £60 billion

of private sector companies which

deliver public services across this

country. That is an important way of

delivering our public services and

when there is an issue as we have

had with Carillion, we have made the

preparations, we have taken action

and we are sorting the situation

out.

We are asking questions now

about when it was obvious this

company was failing and what the

Treasury role was. I put it no

stronger than this. At this stage,

there are real suspicions that the

governments was too close to this

company and too wedded to its

privatisation role. We need full

transparency in meetings and

discussions that to place between

Government ministers, civil servants

and representatives of Carillion and

what warnings were given around

this, implemented or not. We now

need the Treasury to start playing

its proper role and provide an

independent assessment of the

potential costs and risks facing the

taxpayer. It has already been

referred to yesterday, a Cabinet

Office minutes was published after

the statement establishing aching

binge and liability. We urgently

need to know from the Treasury what

is the potential range of costs now

facing the taxpayer?

First of all,

we publish all those minutes, all of

those details of meetings already.

We are a transparent Government and

the make decisions on an objective

fashion. Those decisions are signed

off by the Treasury and signed off

by the Cabinet Office. Recent

decisions on Carillion contract have

been made to make sure the taxpayer

is protected. We always look for

value for money in the way that we

set up our contract and I think the

Government is dealing with this in a

responsible and measured way rather

than making cheap political shots at

a time when people's jobs are in

question and we are working in to

sort that out.

Chief Secretary.

We

are investing a record £41 billion

in our schools this year. For the

first time ever, we will have a plan

national funding formula are putting

in place. We are seeing and of

rising recently in and a national

test with England's scoring its

highest ever score.

Thanks to the

incredible hard work of staff,

children and parents in Redditch,

92% of those schools are occurring

rated outstanding. Leaving a great

education in maths is critical to

equip children in Redditch for the

economy. What support this to

department giving to encourage

people in Redditch to have this

education? Galaxie is right, maths

is vital for the future of our

economy. We know there is a

huge

need for people who have proficiency

in this area. Any shouldn't you does

maths from 16 to 18, the school will

receive £600.

Number 13.

The

Government has an outstanding record

in clamping down on tax avoidance,

evasion and noncompliance will be

brought in an protected £160 billion

in 2010 and no less than £8 billion

in 2016-17 alone from the UK's

largest companies. The tax gap at

the moment, 6% is the lowest, one of

world and lower than during any year

during the last Labour governments.

I wonder if the Minister would agree

that to really tackle tax evasion by

big multinational companies, a big

approach is needed and could he say

with his discussions around the

OECD, the issues he is discussing an

have found favour in a more

international basis.

We have, as my

honourable friend will know, the

night with the forefront of the

OECD's project in the common

reporting standards being rolled out

at the moment. We have taken further

measures in the budget to consult on

the taxation of digitally -based

companies, particularly in response

to holding tax and royalties going

into the role although tax

jurisdictions. That was operational

report back in February and he will

take appropriate action.

It is

embarrassing for the Government that

Carillion's chairman is an adviser

to the Prime Minister on corporate

responsibility. Given the level of

salaries and bonuses awarded to

senior management and Carillion as

well as improving corporate tax

evasion, what'll ligament to to

ensure better corporate governance

in UK companies?

I say gently to the

honourable lady that she does need

to check her facts because the

current head of Carillion is not an

adviser to the Prime Minister. There

was an appointment earlier which was

terminated some months ago and as to

her general point about corporate

governance, this Government has

among the most robust corporate

governance in the world and that is

something that this Government will

continue.

The Government has

undertaking a significant amount of

work to assess the economic impact

of leaving the EU and this is part

of the continued programme of

rigorous and extensive analytical

work on a range of scenarios. The

Government has committed to keep the

party informed, provided that doing

so would not risk damaging our

negotiating position.

Thank you. The

Chancellor has said he wants jobs

first in Brexit. Given that 81% of

the British economy is in the

services sector and the buoy model

-- EEA model is the one given in our

industries, does he agree that a EEA

based Brexit the only viable option

for country?

I think what we can

agree on is that the Government is

working to get the most ambitious

and secure Brexit deal, meaning a

bespoke deal that will not damage

the interests of the economy

long-term.

Thank you. Try the the

Minister to his place in the

Treasury? I'm sure he will do an

excellent job but isn't it the case

that it is impossible to assess the

impact of leaving, whether it is the

EEA are the EU, without knowing

where we are headed. It's time for

the Government to be clear about the

end stage of negotiations around

financial services and I would like

to see the Government publish a

position paper on financial

services, particularly informed by

the meeting, the Prime Minister and

the Chancellor had last week.

I'm

grateful to my honourable friend as

chairman of the select committee,

being aware of her previous exchange

with the Chancellor. The Chancellor

has undertaken to look at it and I

will be working at him and respond

in due course.

Academic assessments by the Treasury

are crucial, but my constituents are

reeling from hundreds of job losses

at Vauxhall and the comments last

night from the CEO of Airbus that

whatever Brexit we had it will be

net negative. Can I plead with the

Minister to take this seriously,

keep us in the single market and

customs union and my constituents in

their jobs?

I can assure you the

honourable lady I do take it

seriously and it is the Government's

intention to negotiate a special

partnership on economic matters. I

would technology there is room for

positivity. If you look at what GSK,

Apple and Google phone has said,

that attitude for positivity exists.

Does he agree with me that since

deciding to lead the EU, this

Government has overseen record job

in finance and figures showing

improved productivity that about you

agree that Britain's best years lie

ahead?

It's certainly the case that

negotiations this country faces are

complex, but I would take and not

domestic approach to all the

discussions undertaken at the

Treasury and elsewhere going

forwards. Mr Speaker, make principal

responsibility is building on the

ambitious that slide out of the

autumn budget to face the key

challenges we face to create a

economy fit for the future. I

Laporta doing so ably supported by

my ex-husband managerial team. Our

approach to -- my excellent

ministerial team. We will be fair to

the next generation by reducing the

national debt that remains to large.

Does my right on friend agree with

me that lowering business taxes, as

this Government has done, is not a

race to the bottom, but vital in

building the strong economy that we

all depend upon?

I agree. Keeping a

business tax competitive so we can

attract international investment to

this country is essential. There is

a quid pro quo, if taxes are low,

they must be paid, and we are

determined to insure full compliance

looking at ways of improving

compliance.

The NHS is in crisis due

to the tightfisted approach the

Johnson takes the public finances.

During any discussions he has had

with the Health Secretary, has the

Chancellor raised any discussion of

the funding crisis, and what

solutions has the right diet for

funding?

We put an extra £6 billion

into the National Health Service.

The first two weeks of the year at

the highest pressure weeks in the

NHS, traditionally. We have seen

extreme pressure in the last two

weeks. We have a influenza virus

crisis going on as well. We treat

the sickest patients first, and it

is right we prioritise those with

urgent needs.

But was an insouciant

attitude if ever there was one. It

is reported that the A&E department

in his constituency is struggling,

so what solutions does he have to

explain why so many have to wait so

long for emergency treatment and

what funding body the NHS?

The

answer to that is £6 billion, the

extra week provided to the NHS. I'm

going lad he raised the hospital in

my constituency, what ever the media

says, when one speaks to 1's own

constituents about their experience

at their local hospital, it is

invariably good and they have

nothing but praise for the service

received from our NHS.

Can my right honourable friend show

that as a Conservative that he

believes in conservation and that

will be something standing for

future generations to enjoy?

I agree

with the assertion of the importance

of our Heritage, which is why the

Department last year gave grants of

millions in that respect. As in the

respect of repairs to historic

buildings. The regulations at the

moment mean we would have to reply

any reductions to all buildings

across the UK, but that is something

we can look at when we leave the EU.

A quarter of £1 million were given

to a anti-abortion group, some are

being taxed on our bodies by people

don't think we should have control

over them. With the set-aside funds

instead to tackle poverty?

We have

committed at the early opportunity

to zero-rate tampons. The fact we

are not doing this at the moment is

due to our membership of the EU. The

tax we raise, the equivalent amount

we are racing through taxing

tampons, we extend to women's

charities.

The debt household is

around £65,000. Another name for the

state is deferred taxation. Does the

Chancellor agree that the best way

to reduce this is to grow our

economy?

There are two ways to get

our debt falling as a percentage of

GDP, by far the easiest and most

agreeable for our constituents is to

grow the economy so that the two

nominator strings.

Together with the

Department for Work and Pensions,

HMRC has a late, missing and

incorrect initiative looking at the

problems with PAYE real-time

information, which makes an many of

the heiress Lucy in Universal Credit

towards. Can I ask what progress has

been made in quantifying those three

problems and what hopes he has for

improving the quality two

as he well

know, the initiative is there to

drive up the accuracy of real-time

information in HMIC, important to

ensure Universal Credit is rather

effectively. Is reversed and

statistics, we believe that across

those three areas, the level is

around 6%, and we are continuously

driving down this figure is growing

forwards.

The opinion free trade

Association will provide an

excellent framework from within

which to exercise our partnership

with the EU. Would this be

considered as a way forward?

We are

seeking a bespoke vehicle for a

special partnership, and where are

keen to locate any constructive

suggestions from any site of the

House.

The chief executive of Airbus

last night said any current Brexit

scenario on the table will weaken

British industry, is the Chancellor

listening?

We engage frequently with

industry and our number one priority

is to ensure we protect the UK

economy as we exit the European

Union. In fact, Airbus as a

manufacturer of equipment with a

zero tariff on it should be a

relatively minimally affected

company. But the company has

concerns about its ability to bring

EU nationals enter the UK to work.

We have assured it we will make sure

that those individuals can continue

to come.

The next stages of

negotiations with the EU are about

to have to make, what we want is a

good deal for business and the

service sector. With the Chancellor

agree that membership of Esther

gives off that opportunity for us?

Membership of the European economic

and, which EFTA would entail, will

offer on the current rules

compliance for freedoms and that

means free movement of people, which

the British Beagle have rejected. --

the British people have rejected.

With Carillion now the poster church

by ... -- with Carillion note the

poster child for dodgy cat as, what

steps will be taken...?

We have

clear rules about managing public

money. We are not bailing this

company out, it has gone into

liquidation. We are taking the

proper steps to protect public

services, which is the right

approach to take.

Since 2010,

unemployment in Cheltenham has

fallen to just over 1%. Does he

agree with mean that to secure jobs,

the Government is right to continue

backing the cyber innovation Centre

which is creating opportunities?

I

completely agree, and I'm shortly

due to visit that centre in

Cheltenham.

The east of the

Ambulance Service experience is

busiest ever Christmas, and it had

to rely on taxis to take patients to

hospitals. At least one patient died

waiting for a ambulance. How much

worse does it have to get before

this Government will commit funding

for these Ambulance Services to run

safely and efficiently?

It is

important to note we have 2.9

million more people visiting A&E

than we did in 2010. As well as

making sure we put in place what a

nice age and to the NHS, where

investing more money and allocated

much more in the budget. -- in-place

modernisation to the NHS.

What

discussions is the Government going

to have the HMRC and other

businesses to make sure these

companies are able to pay tax

liabilities and their employees?

HMRC already has a scheme that can

assist companies which are finding

cash flow difficulties in meeting

tax liabilities. We agreed last

night that HMRC will specifically

signposts by the Carillion-specific

websites that are operating at that

facility exists.

Greater Manchester

Police space eight years of

real-time Scarlets and most 2000

officers. Week after week,

constituents come to my surgery

distressed about anti-social

behaviour that the police cannot

attend to. As a former officer

myself, I know they do the best they

can. Would then Minister commit to

more funding for Greater Manchester

Police

the honourable gentleman will

have noticed that in the draft local

Government settlement we have been

giving police authorities power to

raise additional precepts to deal

with those issues. It is a decision

for the Greater Manchester Police.

The funding formula for local

Government is opaque, with the agree

it would be advantageous to motor a

different formula?

The Government is

committed to introducing a fair

funding formula. The Secretary of

State has committed to move forward

with that programme this year.

Yesterday saw the success of this

successful space industry Bill which

could see Prestwick become the UK's

for spaceport. But the Growth Deal

is ensuring the widest possible

growth from that commitment. Will

the Government commit to the steel?

I can assure the honourable lady I

meant regular discussions with the

Scottish secretary about the Growth

deals across Scotland. We have

committed to a number of originals

and are looking at further once.

One

sentence, please.

Will the Minister

welcomed that Manufacturing is at an

eight-year high?

Yes, Mr Speaker!

Many local councils are setting

their budgets now. They face a

funding crisis, what is Government

going to do about it?

Councils have to look at how

Linighan become more efficient, Alec

and your back offices and

technology.

Unemployment in my

constituency is down by over 50% of

will I honourable friend consider a

new round of enterprise zone bidding

opportunities to help further that

success story?

We will give

consideration to my honourable

friend's suggestion.

Can the

Chancellor clarify whether the terms

of the public sector PFI contract

with Carillion al for those

contracts to be sold on to other

companies in the event of

liquidation?

My understanding is

that the strictly PFI contract are

joint ventures and in that case, it

is most likely that the

joint-venture partner will take

over. There are contracts,

outsourcing contracts, which is here

could be sold on but since the

Government Department as the

contracting party will invariably

have a right to cancel the contract

on the insolvency of the company, in

practice, they will not be able to

be sold on by the official