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the Chancellor of picture Philip

Hammond and his ministerial team. --

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the Chancellor of the Exchequer

Philip Hammond.

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Order! Order! Question to the

Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mr 's

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Mika, with permission I would like

Rushton 's one and two. It is right,

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Mr Speaker, that more of our money

that is spent locally is raised

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locally. In 2010, councils were 80%

dependent on government grants. By

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2020, councils will largely be

funded by council tax and other

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local revenues.

I thank the Minister

for her answer but local councils

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have faced devastating cuts. Between

20 ten and 2020 councils will of had

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their direct funding by 79%. In

Tower Hamlets, we have lost... In

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budget cuts since 2010. With one of

the Conservative Party's own

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councils going bust, can the

Minister now commits finally to

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funding locally councils properly so

they can provide vital services to

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their communities?

It is right we

rebalance local spending from

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central government grants to locally

raised taxes to help keep councils

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accountable and what we have seen

his councils up and down the country

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finding new and innovative ways of

working, sharing back-office

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services, doing things like

installing Wi-Fi, improving waste

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collection. But what we have also

seen is Labour councils wasting

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money. So, for example, momentum

supported Birmingham City Council

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bin strikes, which cost the taxpayer

£40,000 per day.

Order! Order!

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Resume your seat, Mr. You answer for

government policy. You do not waste

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the time of the House by going into

rants about the policies of other

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parties. And if the...

Thank you,

it's the speaker. My own council of

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Brighton and Hove has had to make

£52 million worth of cuts in three

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years. Despite superb Labour

leadership in the city. With one of

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the Minister's own Tory councils

going bust, will the Chancellor

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finally commits to properly funding

local government in tomorrow's local

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government settlement?

We have... To

enable them to fund spending in

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their areas. It is absolutely right

that councils should not waste money

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and should find savings. The fact

is, we went through an incredible...

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Period through labour and we have

succeeded in reducing that deficit

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by three quarters. And can I point

out to the honourable gentleman that

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councils have reserves of £23

billion. And in fact of those

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reserves have increased by 8 billion

since 2010.

Which would have brought

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in additional resource. However,

with the Minister agree with me it

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is not just about resource but it is

also about council structures,

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leadership and creating efficient

organisations?

My honourable friend

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is absolutely right. Lots of

councils have done things better and

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more efficiently and in fact have

led the way across government. We

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have also given more powers to local

mayors and we are giving mayors

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across the country £4.8 billion of

new investment over the next 30

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years.

What priority does she

attached to local authorities over

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new housing?

It is vitally important

that we see more housing built

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across the country and that is why

at budget we committed to 300,000

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homes being built per year over the

next decade.

Mr Speaker, with the

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Chief Secretary join me in paying

tribute to a council that has made

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substantial savings and efficiencies

since 2010 whilst continuing to

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provide excellent services.

He's

absolutely right. We have seen the

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leadership of numerous Conservative

councils across the who find new and

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efficient ways of doing things. And

that is what we need to do as a

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government, we need to find better

ways of doing things and more

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efficiency, rather than wasting

money and crashing the economy as

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happened under the previous Labour

governments.

My own county council

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of Derbyshire has seen their

government funding cut by over £200

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million. Two thirds of their

spending goes on adult social care.

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Does the Minister agree it should be

a postcode lottery as to which

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counties can afford the most council

tax as to whether their elderly get

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looked after decently?

We have put

additional funding into social care

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and we have also allowed councils to

raise a precept. I think it is a

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very important principle that local

councils are accountable for the

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money they spend to local voters.

And the situation we inherited in

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2010 where 80% of the money came

from local government means that we

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could have profligate local councils

and local taxpayers would not have

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to foot the bill.

This week having

faced the same central government

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cuts from everywhere else,

Conservative controlled Kettering

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Borough which am a member can expect

to freeze its council tax for the

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eighth year in a row. Would it not

appear that other councils are

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better at Op... What

under the

previous Labour government council

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tax doubled and we are hearing talk

from the benches opposite that if

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they were to getting government...

The issue of local authorities and

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other public bodies. Will the

Minister commits to lift in the

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public sector pay cap and to

properly funding these pay

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increases?

I point out that we put

an extra £2 billion worth of

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spending power into the hands of the

Scottish Government at the last

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budget. We have also said that we

want to be flexible over public

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sector pay to make sure we are

retaining and recruiting the best

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possible staff.

If you'll forgive

me, Mr Speaker, as we came into the

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chamber we heard the news of... Who

coordinated a large number of

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all-party groups. I would like to

send out simply to his family. These

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ministerial responses demonstrate

absolutely no understanding

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whatsoever of the crisis of cuts

over the last eight years and the

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impact on local government. Local

councils are now facing a funding

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gap of nearly £6 billion by 2020 and

it is the most vulnerable that are

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suffering. The number of children

taken into care is at its highest

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level since 1985. One in three of

councils are warning the cuts have

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left them with insufficient

resources to support these children.

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The leader of the Chancellor's own

Surrey council said, and I quote,

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the government cannot stand by idly

when Rome burns. ... Commit today to

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use next month's Spring Bateman to

address the funding crisis in our

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local councils?

First of all, the

springs statement is not a physical

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event and it is vitally important

that we maintain the discipline that

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we have achieved over the last eight

years, that we keep control of

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public spending because that is what

has led to the strong economy we are

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now seeing, record levels of

employment and increasing number of

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new businesses starting up. And the

reality is that if the party

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opposite where to get into power, we

would see that legacy squandered.

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Local government will see a 2.1%

increase in cash terms between 2015

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and 2019. And as I pointed out, they

have will have also seen an increase

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in local council reserves of £8

billion. Money available to spend

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than invest on investor local

services.

With the crisis in

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children's services, this is not the

time for political knock-about

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responses. I am not sure if the

Chief Secretary has witnessed a

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child being taken into care. I have

and it can scar that child for life.

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But don't listen to me, listen to

the all-party enquiry into children

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social care which won nine out of

ten councils are struggling to meet

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their legal duty to children. The

director of children's services says

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we cannot go on as we are. It is

reported that over half the councils

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in England are planning to cut

children's services further. As

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recent estimates say the Chancellor

will have sufficient resources to

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protect our children from further

cuts. So I'm asking again, I appeal,

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I appeal, once again to the

Chancellor, to use the springs

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statement, which he has the flex

ability to do, to address the £2

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billion funding gap in our

children's services to protect our

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children.

I think it is a bit rich

of the honourable gentleman to

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suggest we should not bring politics

into that when it is precisely what

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he's doing. What we're doing is

making sure that local councils have

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the flexibility to raise council tax

in order to fund those vitally

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important public services. But I

think the party opposite has to

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acknowledge it's not just the money

we spend but it's the way we spend

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it. And the reality is, if the

entire focus is on the level of

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spending rather than what we're

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I'll sure the oral gentleman knows

this, but just to put this in

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context, the vast majority of

current PFI contracts were signed

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under the last Labour Government,

86% of all current PFI projects. The

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talented office in 2010, this

Government as a reformed the

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approach, so they no deliver better

value for money for the taxpayers.

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Newry PF2 project will be subjected

to...

I am concerned about the

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workers. 90% of contractors have to

disagree bulk and it tended to pay

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staff, but only in the interim

period. What about the tempo set

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that will not be paid, and what will

happen after the interim period?

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While the Government guarantee the

employment status and pay of those

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individuals?

I think the gentleman

might be slightly confusing PFI

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contracts with outsourcing contracts

that don't involve capital

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structures, but the resolution of

Carillion continues. So far there

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has been a very high rate of uptake

of a private cloud of Carillion to

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continue services that are being

delivered, and we have high hopes of

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protecting the vast majority of the

jobs involve.

What is a Government

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doing to approve transparency and

public private partnerships?

We

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absolutely value transparency. The

added important part of the overall

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infrastructure, but as I have

explained to the House just now,

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there are currently not PF2 project

in procurement. I think that

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indicates that he has said the bar

for value for money and public

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private partnership is very high,

and we will continue to do so.

That

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is a rather extraordinary state of

affairs. I hope that the honourable

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gentleman is not and ASBOs, and if

he is I am sorry, but otherwise

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there is absolutely no way he should

be leaving the chamber while the

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question is being asked. It is a

discursive day to the House. It is

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discussed it to Chancellor.

The

Shadow Chancellor recently wrote to

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the Chancellor asking if there was

devised value for money get into and

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an updated list of PFI, as existing

data is never two years old, and

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details of any assessment the

Government carried out on

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Carillion's readiness to carrier

contracts.

We get this? I have not

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yet received a letter from the

Shadow Chancellor, but if he has

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written to me, I shall of course

replied to him and answer his

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questions.

This Government has put

raising our national productivity at

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the heart of our mission, from The

National Productivity Investment

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Fund, we have are ready and it is

over £50 million in investment in

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road and rail and in north-west, and

this is an addition to the

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allocations in Manchester are 243

million, and Liverpool, 135 billion.

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By my honourable friend agreed that

the £31 billion national

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productivity investment targeted at

transport, digital communications,

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research and developing and housing

lobbyist the infrastructure of the

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UK economy.

The latest to six sure

that we have had the best run of

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productivity growth says before the

financial crisis, but we are

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certainly not complacent. The

National Productivity Investment

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Fund but invest in an Rhodes, our

broadband connections, and

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delivering more homes, all of which

are key to raising wages and living

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standards are people across the

country.

The problem is that the

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fund is not doing anything to solve

the problems on our roads and

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motorways, and it is amply not

giving enough money to councils to

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make sure your peers are done. --

repairs to motorways and awards are

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done. We're having a greater crisis

than we have seen for some time.

I

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am afraid I don't agree with the

analysis. The Government has made

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record amounts of investment into

our roads, as indeed into error

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rail, and that its ads will announce

in the autumn, there is for the

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money. £30 billion in total to

improve transport across the north

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of England. -- 13 billion.

This

Government has done nothing to

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deliver local rail infrastructure in

the north-west, which is vital for

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jobs and the economy, so when is the

Government going to invest in a

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decent quality services, including

services by my constituents from

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Southport to Manchester, because F

they want to do it, they should

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stand aside and let us get on with

the job.

The Government has been

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investing more in railways across

the country than any Government

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since Victorian times, and that

includes in northern England. Across

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the country, the Government has been

investing a quarter of the Chilean

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pounds and infrastructure projects

is 2010, 4500 of which have already

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been completed.

With your

permission, I would like to add to

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this question together with question

seven and eight, and as my

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honourable friend has just told us,

since 2010 there has been over a

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quarter of a Gillian pounds are

public and private investment in

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infrastructure. We continue to

invest in infrastructure. In the

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autumn budget 2017, by expanding the

national productivity investment

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funds that it will not provide £31

billion additional investment,

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including more than doubling the

Housing infrastructure fund, to

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fibre compounds. The ad has set out

at the budget, Mr Speaker, that our

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plans was a public investment

entries to levels not sustained in

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40 years.

Through the major roads

network, vehicle excise duty will be

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made available for investment for

strategic roads outside the beam at

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the highways agency. I understand

that economic growth must be a

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priority, but how much will the

pressure of future housing

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development be considered in any of

these future schemes, such as in my

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constituency in New York, surrounded

by the Northern Renwick, when we

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have a lot of housing?

The major

roads network will support the

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creation of new housing developments

by improving access to future

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development sites and boosting

suitable land capacity, so

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investment decisions for this

funding will include considerations

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of high proposal schemes will unlock

plans for housing development and

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help to improve how transport is

planned for new developments at the

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outset, and the ring road that he

refers to is of course part of the

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proposed major roads network.

The

Chancellor will not the great

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Eastern realign task force which has

made the economic and business case

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for rail infrastructure directly to

the Treasury. He will also note that

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Draco Anglican teenagers are forking

out a lot of money to the tragedy

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under the current franchise. Can the

Chancellor is generally get some of

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this money back to invest in a

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much-needed improvements that are

commuters are not getting?

My

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honourable friend is a great

champion of infrastructure, and I

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see how was to create a more

dependable rear wing with entries

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focus on punctuality and

reliability, and that is why the

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Government is pushing the beggars

feel investment since Victorian

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times. Under the Greater Anglia

franchise that is a commitment to

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deliver more services, faster

journey times, including two Norwich

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with trains each weight from 2019.

And a great Eastern Menai proposal

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is currently in an early stage of

development, but we will consider

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the case this year has been

followed.

Can the Chancellor update

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has on the steps being taken to

ensure the Government's ambitious

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plans for housing are supported by

the local infrastructure

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investments, such as through housing

infrastructure fund?

My honourable

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friend is right to observe that the

conduct build the homes is continued

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without infrastructure, and often it

is back from local communities to

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the idea of accommodating greater

number of homes is if you're that

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infrastructure will not keep it. To

budget 2017 more than doubled the

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housing infrastructure fund, taking

it to a total of £5 billion, and in

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February the 1st, we announced a by

compounds of investment from that

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fund, supporting 133 project that

will unlock infrastructure for up to

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200,000 new homes.

It is now two

years and two months since Boxing

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Day fact that hit much of Yorkshire,

including my constituency of Leeds

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West, took still in Leeds West is no

better protected from floods than it

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was on Boxing Day 2015, and the

Government still have not signed off

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money for the face to alleviation

scheme. -- phase two alleviation

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scheme. Buy more that happen,

because it is ardently needed?

My

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constituency also has been affected

by flooding, and some of the

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response projects and major

engineering projects which take time

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to develop, and of course Defra and

the Environment Agency has funding

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for flood relief projects, but these

have to be prioritised, and have to

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be worked up into proper business

cases, but I will look at this

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preserve the case, and if I may, I

will write to have a busy copy in a

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hazmat.

The most important national

infrastructure project is a network

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of tidal lagoons for low-carbon

energy. Since Jay-Z apparently

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uprooted project as good value for

money, why isn't allowing dinosaurs

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in the energy Department to block

it?

I imagine that the honourable

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gentleman is offending to the

Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project,

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which as he knows, is under

consideration by the Government, and

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on an item will be made in due

course.

Contrary to the Treasury's

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on assessment, be visibly found that

a sport investment in London is 2.5

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times per capita higher than it is

in the north. An knowledge -- in

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knowledge, we know companies are

shedding jobs and citing the

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transport as a cause. What action

will minister stick to Ederson is an

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just imbalance, and how it will be,

to working with the mirrors of

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Manchester and Liverpool on the

convention of the north and eyes

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this morning?

I just recognise an

agree with the honourable

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gentleman's figures. The analysis

shows that actively infrastructure

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investment in the north per capita

is higher than in the south-east.

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The Chancellor has spoken out in

favour of rebalancing the economy

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via a fairer redistribution of tyres

were spending, we did therefore

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consider the strategic jazz pipe was

cause for a specific entries and

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transport spending across the north

of England?

The Government is

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committed to the northern powerhouse

project, and recognises that that

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has to be supported through

infrastructure investment. We are

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looking at northern powerhouse

infrastructure investment projects

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on a case-by-case basis, and will

continue to support the development

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of the northern powerhouse.

Question

six, Mr Speaker.

The Government is

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undertaking a wide-ranging set of

analysis of the impact of our

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departure from the European Union.

This is changing through time as we

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develop an approach going forward,

and as we move to a bold and

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Scarborough heads of agreement with

the union partners -- all that

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comprehensive agreement.

The

Chancellor new in 2016 that the

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majority of people with proof that a

soft Brexit a hard-won, and people

0:24:100:24:17

like the Foreign Secretary who said

he would have for a single market,

0:24:170:24:21

but neither Chancellor knows that it

will cost us £45 billion in lost tax

0:24:210:24:27

receipts Didier hard Brexit, while

he at least acknowledge that the

0:24:270:24:30

people like me and across the

chamber who support us remaining and

0:24:300:24:35

both a customs union and the single

market do it in the name of

0:24:350:24:39

prosperity and in the name of

upholding democracy?

The Government

0:24:390:24:43

has made its position very clear. We

are leaving the European Union, that

0:24:430:24:47

means we are leaving the customs

union and the single market, however

0:24:470:24:50

we are determined to negotiate a

deal which will give us fragilis

0:24:500:24:55

trade with the EU 27 as possible,

postal aligning herself as a

0:24:550:25:00

globally facing mission to go out

and conduct and secure free trade

0:25:000:25:04

agreements with other countries

around the world.

Could the

0:25:040:25:11

Government minister please confirm

that it will be a Conservative

0:25:110:25:14

Government that is and will continue

to be the voice of British business,

0:25:140:25:18

and that securing a strong economic

future will be at the heart of the

0:25:180:25:22

Brexit negotiations?

I thank my

right honourable friend for that

0:25:220:25:27

question. I can of course confirm

that we remain entirely committed to

0:25:270:25:32

the strength of our economy, to

supporting businesses up and down

0:25:320:25:36

our country, not least in our

negotiations over the European

0:25:360:25:39

Union, and in a customs respect to

that, for which I have some aspire

0:25:390:25:45

to do with us some responsibility in

making sure that the move as

0:25:450:25:47

effectively as possible across the

EU 27 post our departure.

I believe

0:25:470:25:54

that the best way forward for

Britain is to negotiate a new

0:25:540:25:59

relationship with the European

Union, one based on an economic

0:25:590:26:02

partnership involving a customs

union and the single market and

0:26:020:26:05

goods and services. Not my words, Mr

Speaker, but the member of

0:26:050:26:10

Parliament for North Somerset, the

Secretary of State for International

0:26:100:26:12

Development, from his website just

now. Can I ask the Minister, what

0:26:120:26:19

representation as he had from the

Secretary of State for International

0:26:190:26:23

Development and supportive

membership of the customs union and

0:26:230:26:25

the single market?

0:26:250:26:39

On the customs union and on trade.

We are taking forward legislation to

0:26:390:26:44

make sure that the aspirations that

we have in that respect in terms of

0:26:440:26:48

our negotiations with the EU can...

When those deals are concluded.

0:26:480:26:57

Yesterday I met a delegation of

business representatives from my

0:26:570:27:00

constituency who are optimistic

about our prospects when we leave

0:27:000:27:04

the single market and Customs union.

They are currently examining the

0:27:040:27:09

concept of Freeport. Will the

Minister agree to meet them when

0:27:090:27:13

they have developed their thoughts

further and try and overcome

0:27:130:27:17

possible obstacles?

I thank the

honourable member for his question.

0:27:170:27:25

Of course, I or indeed the Chief

Secretary to the Treasury will be

0:27:250:27:29

happy to meet him and his business

colleagues. We are potentially

0:27:290:27:35

interested in Freeport go forward

and we will keep that under review.

0:27:350:27:39

Many members of the cabinets have

made their views clear on this

0:27:390:27:42

issue. The Chancellor has said that

after we leave the EU he would like

0:27:420:27:46

to see no tariffs with Europe and no

hard border with Northern Ireland.

0:27:460:27:50

To quote he said he wanted a deal

that would facilitate the freest

0:27:500:27:56

deal with the EU and allow us to

forge new relationships around the

0:27:560:28:02

world. ... In a speech made

yesterday by the Leader of the

0:28:020:28:10

Opposition which to quote the

Chancellor will facilitate the

0:28:100:28:17

freest... And allow us to forge new

trade agreements with our partners

0:28:170:28:23

are unwell.

Well, I'm clearly here

to speak about government policy.

0:28:230:28:32

The zigzag in that we have seen from

members opposite on the position of

0:28:320:28:37

the customs union has been quite

extraordinary. And it does seem to

0:28:370:28:42

me at first take if I understand

what has been suggested that this

0:28:420:28:45

idea that you can be in the customs

union and yet go out and have very

0:28:450:28:50

high level of control over doing

deals with other countries, I just

0:28:500:28:53

do not think tanks together.

Questioned nine, Mr Speaker. Thank

0:28:530:29:02

you, Mr Speaker. My honourable

friend will know that in the budget

0:29:020:29:05

might honourable friend the

Chancellor announced an additional

0:29:050:29:08

one point. The. Billion we ensure

our position of the Welsh government

0:29:080:29:16

that our funding is above that the

rate in England and as a consequence

0:29:160:29:19

of those and other measures, Wales

is now one of the fastest-growing

0:29:190:29:23

nations within the nations and

regions of the United Kingdom.

Will

0:29:230:29:30

he further agree with me that

leaving the UK single market would

0:29:300:29:36

leave of far bigger risk to the

economy the lead in the EU single

0:29:360:29:41

market?

It is entirely right.

Competitors 12% going into the

0:29:410:29:52

European Union. I think those

figures, Mr Speaker, speak for

0:29:520:29:56

themselves.

Traditionally Wales has

lower wages than the rest of the

0:29:560:30:01

economy. In light of low

productivity and low growth

0:30:010:30:04

forecast, what is the government

ensuring that high-quality jobs can

0:30:040:30:08

be attracted to the Welsh economy?

We're doing a great deal in terms of

0:30:080:30:16

productivity across the country. We

have agreed to city deals within

0:30:160:30:20

Wales, £500 million for Cardiff,

more for Swansea. Employment is up

0:30:200:30:28

in Wales by 7.3% since 2010 and

unemployment in Wales is down by 39%

0:30:280:30:34

since that time.

The question is,

what investment? They have promised

0:30:340:30:43

to electrify the main line between

the two cities. They will not commit

0:30:430:30:49

to the Swansea Bay lagoon... Welsh

at the same time as subsidising the

0:30:490:30:56

most expensive row when the world in

England. When will the government

0:30:560:31:00

stop taking Wales were right?

Am

very surprised, Mr Speaker, to hear

0:31:000:31:06

the honourable member levelled those

accusations against a government.

0:31:060:31:08

I've already explained we have set

aside another 1.2 billion for Wales

0:31:080:31:12

in the recent budget, the two city

deals that I have referred to were

0:31:120:31:17

also back back in a South Wales

metro and we're big committed to

0:31:170:31:23

agree on further growth deals with

North and south Wales.

Version ten,

0:31:230:31:28

Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, the cross

Whitehall analysis referred to is

0:31:280:31:34

provisional internal analysis, part

of on growing analysis and further

0:31:340:31:38

work is in train. This analysis has

been developed as a tool to inform

0:31:380:31:43

Ministers on the European Union exit

trade committee and subcommittees

0:31:430:31:47

about the choices that must be made

as negotiations progress. Thank you

0:31:470:31:53

for that answer. Does the Chancellor

agree with the former international

0:31:530:31:57

trade permanent secretary that

giving up the single market and

0:31:570:32:00

customs union is like giving up a

three course meal for packet of

0:32:000:32:03

crisps in the future? If he does not

agree, can he agree what specific

0:32:030:32:09

evidence his department has seen

that future trade agreements will

0:32:090:32:12

outweigh the damage of leaving the

single market customs union for

0:32:120:32:16

businesses and jobs across the

country but particularly in the

0:32:160:32:19

north-east?

It is the government's

intention to maintain the highest

0:32:190:32:27

possible access for British

businesses to European Union

0:32:270:32:30

markets. And the honourable lady is

right that we should approach this

0:32:300:32:34

on an evidence basis. We should look

for the evidence of value of our

0:32:340:32:39

trade flows with Europe, what that

is generating UK in terms of jobs

0:32:390:32:42

and we should look objectively at

the opportunities that lie with

0:32:420:32:49

third country trade deals and the

likely profile of new jobs and new

0:32:490:32:54

trade and new opportunities that can

be created and we should weigh those

0:32:540:32:57

carefully.

Mr Speaker, leaks from

the Brexit analysis showed that UK

0:32:570:33:05

Government's borrowing will rise

dramatically under bricks fit. Can

0:33:050:33:12

the Chancellor reassures that he

will cut vital public services to

0:33:120:33:17

plug this gap?

As the honourable

lady knows, the analysis she refers

0:33:170:33:22

to models standardised off-the-shelf

trade models. The government is

0:33:220:33:30

seeking a bespoke deal with the

European Union to deliver a deep

0:33:300:33:35

economic partnership, which would

have a completely different set of

0:33:350:33:38

outcomes. That remains our

objective.

Mr Speaker, it is for

0:33:380:33:46

departments to consider the

equalities impact of their proposals

0:33:460:33:50

on workforce strategy and pay. The

important thing is we reward public

0:33:500:33:54

servants fairly for the work they

do.

Public sector servants certainly

0:33:540:33:59

have not been fairly. Can I return

to the private sector. Is the chief

0:33:590:34:07

secretary concerned as I am that

many private-sector firms in their

0:34:070:34:10

reporting obligations on the gender

pay gap are excluding partners

0:34:100:34:15

income on the basis that they are

not employees. What will government

0:34:150:34:18

do to close a loophole?

We have

announced new policies on reporting

0:34:180:34:26

the private sector pay gap. The pay

gap has come down under this

0:34:260:34:31

government and we are now seeing a

record number of women in work. And

0:34:310:34:34

the reason that is is we have taken

the difficult economic decisions to

0:34:340:34:40

close the deficit and to make sure

we have allowed the private sector

0:34:400:34:43

to flourish.

With inflation at 3%

and government cut council tax and

0:34:430:34:51

police budgets forcing up precepts,

why should low paid workers

0:34:510:34:55

predominantly who are women have an

increase of only 1% next year after

0:34:550:34:59

four years of 1% already?

First of

all I would point out that those on

0:34:590:35:05

the lowest pay have seen their real

wages rise by 7% since 2015. The

0:35:050:35:12

highest level for some time. And

also, it is the women that we are

0:35:120:35:17

seeing more likely to be in work, a

record level of employment and we

0:35:170:35:22

have also given additional

flexibility to public services to

0:35:220:35:25

make sure they are able to recruit

and retain.

The government is taking

0:35:250:35:35

a proactive approach to support

borrowers and to aid people to

0:35:350:35:38

manage their money well and help

those in problem debt. We reformed

0:35:380:35:42

the regulation giving the FC a

considerable regulatory powers and

0:35:420:35:48

we are setting up a new single

financial guidance policy to make it

0:35:480:35:51

easier for people to get help with

money matters.

After seven years,

0:35:510:35:58

wages are still flowing 2010.

Self-employed people are on average

0:35:580:36:03

paid less than they were a

generation ago. Does the Minister

0:36:030:36:08

share my alarm that too many people

are having to worry about buying

0:36:080:36:11

school uniform, affording a family

holiday or even just paying for

0:36:110:36:15

their rent or mortgage?

The

government recognises it's very

0:36:150:36:21

important that we focus on the

poorest people in our society, that

0:36:210:36:24

is why we have increased the

national living wage by 4.7% which

0:36:240:36:28

will mean a pay rise of £600 for

those working full-time. We have

0:36:280:36:34

also increased the personal

allowance, frozen the fuel duty and

0:36:340:36:38

increased childcare support to

attend to the concerns raised.

As

0:36:380:36:45

part of our enquiry into household

finances, the Treasury committee is

0:36:450:36:48

looking at the problems facing

financially vulnerable households

0:36:480:36:51

and last week I and my committee

colleague visited the citizens

0:36:510:36:56

advice bureau in Nottingham. There

they told as the problems caused by

0:36:560:37:01

banks and companies but the harshest

of always the government. There is

0:37:010:37:05

forbearance for... Over parents. A

live is often the first port of call

0:37:050:37:09

rather than a last resort. Is the

Minister concerned by this heavy

0:37:090:37:14

handedness and as you not agree that

the local... Should lead...

As part

0:37:140:37:25

of the work of the single finance

guidance body, we will be

0:37:250:37:30

implementing a breathing space. That

work is... That Bill is going

0:37:300:37:35

through committee as you know and I

am determined that we will get this

0:37:350:37:38

right, listen to best practice

across the country. We are committed

0:37:380:37:41

in our manifesto to a six-week

breathing space and we will look

0:37:410:37:46

very carefully at representations

received from across the country.

0:37:460:37:52

Citizens advice report on Universal

Credit claimants who are having more

0:37:520:37:55

than 40% of their standard allowance

taken from the monthly payment.

0:37:550:37:59

There is a 40% cap on repayments to

third parties but it does not appear

0:37:590:38:04

to include payments of advanced

budgeting loans and it is living

0:38:040:38:07

people and able to look make ends

meet. Will the Minister agreed to

0:38:070:38:11

meet with DWP colleagues to ensure

people are not pushed into debt by

0:38:110:38:17

the government's own rules?

Of

course I will meet with colleagues

0:38:170:38:23

across government. I meeting with

the Minister as we seek to get this

0:38:230:38:26

legislation right.

Mr Speaker,

membership of the European Economic

0:38:260:38:34

Area would require free member of

people with the rest of the European

0:38:340:38:40

Union and the UK Government has been

clear that the free movement of

0:38:400:38:43

people cannot continue as it is now.

So we are seeking a bespoke,

0:38:430:38:48

comprehensive and ambitious

partnership in the neutral interests

0:38:480:38:52

of the UK and the EU.

The

government's own forecast at suggest

0:38:520:39:00

that no deal Brexit will cut GDP

growth in the north-west of England.

0:39:000:39:04

What steps is he taking to reduce

the impacts of no deal?

As I said

0:39:040:39:13

earlier in answer to a previous

question, the figures to which my

0:39:130:39:17

honourable friend refers are based

on standardised trade models, not

0:39:170:39:21

that its bespoke deal that we are

seeking to achieve. She asked me

0:39:210:39:24

what steps I am taking to protect

her constituents's interest. I am

0:39:240:39:30

supporting my colleagues in seeking

to strike an ambitious partnership

0:39:300:39:35

with the EU that delivers maximum

benefits for the EU and the UK.

What

0:39:350:39:43

assessment has the Chancellor made

in particular of the potential

0:39:430:39:46

benefits of EUA benefits... UK

economy of the creative industries,

0:39:460:39:54

so important for my constituents in

Bristol West?

The creative

0:39:540:40:00

industries and one of Britain's a

great success stories and more

0:40:000:40:04

broadly our services sector is our

strategic strength in many respects.

0:40:040:40:09

We have to ensure that as we

negotiate a future relationship with

0:40:090:40:13

the European Union, we protect not

only the marketing goods but the

0:40:130:40:17

marketing services where Britain has

such significant comparative

0:40:170:40:20

advantage.

By helping all places to

access the benefits of technological

0:40:200:40:28

progress and reach their full

potential, we can drive growth at

0:40:280:40:33

national level. Sizzled in 2016 the

government has announced an

0:40:330:40:37

additional £7 billion for science

and innovation... To total

0:40:370:40:41

government are indeed spending by

2021.

Does he agree with me that

0:40:410:40:50

digital technology enables further

devolution away from London of

0:40:500:40:53

high-tech industries but what is the

government doing to support a?

The

0:40:530:41:00

government's are expanding... By

investing 21 million over four years

0:41:000:41:06

to help people grow a digital

business and this includes a

0:41:060:41:09

large-scale city the demonstrated in

Manchester which demonstrates how

0:41:090:41:14

Internet links can improve energy

and health and culture.

0:41:140:41:26

In those centres of excellence in

gaydar, health and energy, key

0:41:260:41:32

drivers of future economy. And

Saturday, I had a meeting with Sadiq

0:41:320:41:36

can wear start-up is identified

attracting investment as a key

0:41:360:41:42

barrier to their growth. What is

this Government doing to attract

0:41:420:41:47

investment to businesses in

Newcastle, and those that the good

0:41:470:41:50

image in a bank has supported by

Labour?

We certainly have a national

0:41:500:41:57

bank to encourage investment in

small businesses. We also have the

0:41:570:42:02

£400 million digital infrastructure

fund, and as a minister, I am doing

0:42:020:42:05

all I can to make sure we find the

best conditions for investing across

0:42:050:42:09

the country.

ICI FS have confirmed,

under our plan, public investment

0:42:090:42:22

will reach levels not sustained

until the late 1970s by the end of

0:42:220:42:26

this Parliament, and we want to see

that investment across United

0:42:260:42:30

Kingdom. We are delivering £30

billion of transport investment in

0:42:300:42:34

the north, and we will launch a

transport as much as what fun to

0:42:340:42:38

kasbah migrate to cities.

Devolution

in the greatest city scatter

0:42:380:42:46

Manchester region is beginning to

unlock opportunities for investment

0:42:460:42:50

and infrastructure, research and

development and innovation in the

0:42:500:42:52

north-west. It will allow facilities

in my constituency to prosper.

0:42:520:42:59

There's a minister and agree, that

FBI able to realise the full

0:42:590:43:03

potential of our regions, devolution

has to extend further.

I'm delighted

0:43:030:43:12

to hear the positive story that the

honourable gentleman is giving that

0:43:120:43:15

we have created as a Government. In

the last make, I have met with the

0:43:150:43:20

Mayor of Greater Manchester, and we

are committed to working with anyone

0:43:200:43:24

who shares our commitment to

economic growth and prosperity in

0:43:240:43:26

the north of England.

The Government

is committed to picking up

0:43:260:43:35

investment in Scotland and it did

the Chancellor announced an

0:43:350:43:40

additional £2 billion at Dinas

budget. We have boosted city deals

0:43:400:43:45

are ready by £1 billion, and we have

committed for the city deals in

0:43:450:43:51

sterling, the case it is, and the

Borders.

As shown by honourable

0:43:510:43:57

friend will share my concern and the

consent of my constituents activity

0:43:570:44:02

stats were at a recent systematic

sure that -- showed a decline below

0:44:020:44:09

the levels of the UK. Does he not

agree with me that instead of making

0:44:090:44:13

Scotland the highest tax part of the

UK, and increasing taxes, he should

0:44:130:44:18

be encouraging the Scottish

Government to follow this

0:44:180:44:22

Government's lead, encouraging

enterprise and growing UK

0:44:220:44:26

productivity if that's what it ties

levels in ten years.

You're

0:44:260:44:32

absolutely right to raise the

critical as you are productivity,

0:44:320:44:38

and it is of course the

responsibility of both Government

0:44:380:44:40

and that respect. On the matter of

tax that you raise, I totally agree,

0:44:400:44:45

that it is important to keep tax

down, add to the extent that that

0:44:450:44:49

has achieved in Scotland as been to

a last degree the changes we have

0:44:490:44:54

made to personal allowance.

0:44:540:45:05

Mr Speaker, we have made sure that

local councils have the reliability

0:45:110:45:17

to serve local residents by giving

them additional council tax

0:45:170:45:20

flexibility.

I thank the Minister

for that answer, but between 2010

0:45:200:45:29

and 2020, bit of a cancer will have

had their direct funding cut by 70%.

0:45:290:45:38

Can the minister explain how they

are expected to meet the rising

0:45:380:45:43

children service and adult social

care demands?

As they died, councils

0:45:430:45:47

have been given the ability to

increase council tax levels to pay

0:45:470:45:52

for those services, and what is

vitally important is that those

0:45:520:45:56

taxes are raised locally so that

local councillors are accountable

0:45:560:45:59

for the decisions they make.

Can you

confirm that the Government will now

0:45:590:46:07

probably to improve their funding

for local government to replace the

0:46:070:46:11

transparent and advert system, and

what you look closely at the

0:46:110:46:16

Leicestershire model for dinner.

It

is a good point. Local government

0:46:160:46:19

funding has not been fair, and that

is why we have been consulting on

0:46:190:46:24

affair from you at the moment,

analyst with interest that has

0:46:240:46:27

representations.

With the Minister

give... Number 20, Mr Speaker.

Since

0:46:270:46:40

2010, when we had a post-war record

level of deficit of 9.9%, we have

0:46:400:46:46

reduced that to 2.2% as of last

year, and a forecast in November

0:46:460:46:52

that this deficit bolt for the

decline to 1.1% of GDP by 2022,

0:46:520:47:00

2023.

With the Minister give an

estimate of his recent assessment of

0:47:000:47:04

his effect that our deficit

reduction measures have taking up on

0:47:040:47:07

relieving the tax burden for younger

generations?

My honourable friend

0:47:070:47:12

rate is an absolutely critical point

about the borders of getting the

0:47:120:47:15

debts down in order to make sure

that future generations do not carry

0:47:150:47:19

the burden of that debt, which is

why we have reduced the deficit by

0:47:190:47:23

three quarters, it is why we are

going to hit our reduction and the

0:47:230:47:27

level of debt to years early in

2020.

The an agenda for Huddersfield

0:47:270:47:37

is very eager, and I think we ought

to hear the fellow.

Some people in

0:47:370:47:46

the us will not I am not the most

radical member of the pages, but can

0:47:460:47:49

I tell the Minister that if we had

been successful in reducing the

0:47:490:47:54

budget of this Government, my

constituents in Yorkshire could

0:47:540:48:00

forget that, but the fact of the

matter is that we have had the money

0:48:000:48:04

for the electrification of the

trans-Pennine relied stolen from us,

0:48:040:48:09

and as Chancellor refuses to give it

back. When will he make amends?

As

0:48:090:48:15

the honourable member but not, that

we are awaiting the business case

0:48:150:48:24

for this project, and when we

receive that, we will accept that

0:48:240:48:28

most closely.

Thank you so much, Mr

Speaker.

In summer 2015, the summer

0:48:280:48:45

as the CEO of virgin money to bleed

a view to gender diversity. And

0:48:450:48:53

response, she lodged the women's

finance Charter, which as pharmacy,

0:48:530:49:01

to four.

I thank the Minister for

that excellent answer, and following

0:49:010:49:10

the Royal mind's appointment of its

first funeral Chief Executive in its

0:49:100:49:17

1001 year history, but the Secretary

of State journey in congratulating

0:49:170:49:20

her on her new role?

Yes, I would be

delighted to congratulate Art, and I

0:49:200:49:27

wish her all the best in the new

role. If I may, I would also like to

0:49:270:49:32

take this opportunity to apply to

congratulate my own constituents who

0:49:320:49:38

was elected the first woman

president... I wish the Secretary of

0:49:380:49:46

State are the best with that.

LAUGHTER

0:49:460:49:48

.

I'm sure he'll be back with some

anxiety.

My principal responsibility

0:49:480:50:03

is to ensure economic responsibility

and the continued prosperity of the

0:50:030:50:05

British people and I will do so by

building on the plan set out in the

0:50:050:50:10

autumn budget. This Government is

determined to meet the important

0:50:100:50:13

challenges we face as well as to

seize the opportunities ahead, as we

0:50:130:50:17

create an economy fit for the

future. And I balanced approach to

0:50:170:50:22

the public finances enables ASBO to

give households and businesses

0:50:220:50:26

supporting the near term, and to

invest in the future of this country

0:50:260:50:30

while also being fair to the next

generation by reducing the national

0:50:300:50:34

debt that remains far too large.

Reducing to raise VAT to 5% after

0:50:340:50:42

really the European Union would

create an extra 121,000 jobs and

0:50:420:50:47

£4.6 billion in revenue to the

tragedy of a tenuous. It will be a

0:50:470:50:51

great boost to our cities and also

our coastal towns. While he commit

0:50:510:50:59

to looking at this edgy as we leave

the EU?

My honourable friend is

0:50:590:51:05

nothing if not persistent and

consistent. At that can never have

0:51:050:51:09

maintained he has raised this issue.

There have been numerous requests

0:51:090:51:12

for new VAT believes since the

referendum, some of which is

0:51:120:51:17

currently not permitted under EU

law. And have that everywhere to

0:51:170:51:22

gather the VAT relief request that

we have received, that has come to

0:51:220:51:26

more than £38 billion a year. On VAT

and tourism, the Government has

0:51:260:51:33

received representations on this

issue. We are looking again at the

0:51:330:51:36

case for change, and we have issued

a call for evidence on the impact of

0:51:360:51:40

the 80 on tourism in Northern

Ireland, analyst at the keep this

0:51:400:51:44

issue and a careful review.

The

chief secretary gave a speech last

0:51:440:51:50

year, far better value for money

from public finances, and are not

0:51:500:51:54

spending money we don't have. He

talked about not wasting money. So

0:51:540:51:59

how can she justify spending

hundreds of millions of pounds on

0:51:590:52:03

for the tax giveaways was £2000 per

child via the tax free childcare

0:52:030:52:08

scheme to the wealthiest families

using, for example, private schools.

0:52:080:52:14

Isn't that a waste of money? Is that

not spending money we don't have?

I

0:52:140:52:19

will point out that the voucher

scheme invented by the previous

0:52:190:52:24

Labour Government only benefited

600,000 families, whereas our scheme

0:52:240:52:31

is much broader. It benefits 1.5

million people. And... And the skin

0:52:310:52:43

of the Labour Government was open to

private schools and private

0:52:430:52:48

mercenaries as well.

Last weekend

the chamber, we had an opposition MP

0:52:480:52:55

complained that they believe they

should be personally be paying far

0:52:550:52:58

more tax. Can the Minister confirm

the mechanism by which anybody can

0:52:580:53:03

currently voluntarily do exactly

that?

As a minister of the tragedy,

0:53:030:53:10

I would be delighted if the people

voluntarily stepped forward to pay

0:53:100:53:15

more tax than they argue, that is, I

am pleased to inform my honourable

0:53:150:53:20

friend, about the possible by way of

a gifted to the Crown, and I am

0:53:200:53:24

looking at ways to raise awareness

of that particular opportunity. I

0:53:240:53:28

would be happy to meet with him to

discuss those options with them. I

0:53:280:53:32

would also to all members are very

generous gift aid relief that the

0:53:320:53:35

Treasury provides for those to which

to make direct contributions to

0:53:350:53:40

charities of their choice.

Four

intent of Enfield's children are

0:53:400:53:45

living below the poverty line. But

on a 34 children -- that is almost

0:53:450:53:54

34 thousand children. My

constituency is in the top 20

0:53:540:53:57

constituencies in the country with

the fastest growing level of child

0:53:570:54:00

poverty. If the Chancellor pursuing

any kind of joined up policies with

0:54:000:54:06

other relevant departments didn't by

the Prime Minister said and make

0:54:060:54:10

Britain a country that works not for

a privileged few but for every one

0:54:100:54:14

of us, including those 34,000?

The

Government believes that one of the

0:54:140:54:20

most important divers are bringing

people out of poverty is work, and

0:54:200:54:24

we are rolling out Universal Credit

as a consequence, with it is ever is

0:54:240:54:28

that that is more successful online

and legacy benefits. Since 2010, the

0:54:280:54:34

honourable lady will probably know

that 200,000 fewer children are now

0:54:340:54:41

in absolute poverty than was the

case in 2010.

What preparations as

0:54:410:54:46

the Treasury be making for leaving

the European Union, and by the

0:54:460:54:51

tragedy be ready on day one to

adjure frictionless borders when we

0:54:510:54:54

leave the European Union, Deal or no

Deal?

The Government is continuing

0:54:540:55:01

with data preparations for all

possible March 20 scenarios, and

0:55:010:55:08

this includes adjourning the

partners have adequate resources to

0:55:080:55:10

prepare for a year at it. To date,

the Treasury has allocated

0:55:100:55:16

departments nearly £790 for

preparation activity, and we are

0:55:160:55:18

currently in the process of

allocating the 18-19 funding from

0:55:180:55:25

the additional funding INS in the

autumn budget.

The health and social

0:55:250:55:31

care system has been pushed to its

limit in recent weeks, not my words,

0:55:310:55:36

but those of my local hospital

trust, and last month they were

0:55:360:55:39

forced to cancel and 9025 operators,

and 640 outpatient appointment. --

0:55:390:55:48

325 operations. It also makes it

just's challenge and financial

0:55:480:55:57

situation even worse. When will he

get the system be sustainable

0:55:570:56:00

funding it needs?

0:56:000:56:06

The NHS has been rated the best

health care system in the world but

0:56:060:56:09

we do recognise there are extra

demands on the help system which is

0:56:090:56:13

why at the budget we put in an extra

£6.3 billion worth of funding.

What

0:56:130:56:20

progress has been made in reducing

the level of corporation tax

0:56:200:56:23

evasion?

I'm delighted to warm the

House considerable progress has been

0:56:230:56:31

made in reducing the level of tax

evasion amongst the corporate

0:56:310:56:36

sector. We have been at the

forefront of the initiative's

0:56:360:56:40

launched with the... The profit

diversion tax was brought in in 2015

0:56:400:56:48

as a consequence we have brought in

£53 billion in by clamping on this

0:56:480:56:54

area since 2010.

Members have

already raised the insufficient

0:56:540:57:00

funding of local authorities by this

government. The local campaign in

0:57:000:57:06

Lewisham prevented children and

adults with mental health services

0:57:060:57:11

still lost from central government.

When will the government finally

0:57:110:57:14

take this seriously and reversed the

cuts to children's mental health

0:57:140:57:18

services?

We are putting additional

funding and support into children's

0:57:180:57:26

mental health services and the

Department for Education has

0:57:260:57:29

recently announced additional

support for children's mental health

0:57:290:57:32

issues in schools.

Could my right

honourable friend tell the House

0:57:320:57:39

what assessment the Treasury has

made either separately or jointly of

0:57:390:57:46

how external initiatives on

competitiveness and investment might

0:57:460:57:48

help the rail sector and Network

Rail in particular?

This is that

0:57:480:57:55

question for my right honourable

friend the Transport Secretary is

0:57:550:58:00

looking at how to improve the

productivity of the role way of

0:58:000:58:03

course. How to ensure that every

pound we invest in the railway

0:58:030:58:08

delivers the maximum possible

benefit to railway users and he will

0:58:080:58:12

make further announcements in due

course.

Could the Chancellor set out

0:58:120:58:19

the benefits or otherwise of the

arrangement the government appears

0:58:190:58:22

to have for a customs union between

Camden, Islington and Westminster?

0:58:220:58:32

I'm sure, Mr Speaker, when I go home

and reflect on it the meaning that

0:58:320:58:35

question will become later me. What

I'll say to the honourable lady is

0:58:350:58:43

that if we look at the way goods and

services flow freely between

0:58:430:58:47

different parts of our own economy

and indeed between different parts

0:58:470:58:50

of the United kingdom we see at once

the huge benefits that it brings

0:58:500:58:56

having frictionless borders as we

move our goods and services.

I am

0:58:560:59:01

very much in favour gifting but I do

find that when some large charities

0:59:010:59:06

say they receive no direct support

from the government but do receive

0:59:060:59:13

gift aid that the Exchequer will not

publish those figures. Will the

0:59:130:59:17

Chancellor reconsider that?

And the

revenue does not disclose the funds

0:59:170:59:23

individual charities receive from

gift aid due to their obligations to

0:59:230:59:28

respect taxpayer confidentiality

under the 2005 act. Of course some

0:59:280:59:32

large charities do so voluntarily.

Cancer research is one example that

0:59:320:59:38

received £31 million in this way but

I'm very sympathetic to my right

0:59:380:59:42

honourable friend's argument and it

is a matter that I'll be taking

0:59:420:59:44

forward. Alan Mak Ryanair have

announced slashing of 20 Glasgow

0:59:440:59:51

airport routes, a cut of over a

million passengers in the loss of

0:59:510:59:55

many jobs the departure tax caused

by this government has been cited as

0:59:551:00:03

a reason. Another is the Brexit

uncertainty in the aviation sector.

1:00:031:00:08

With more routes and jobs likely to

go, what is the Chancellor and his

1:00:081:00:12

colleagues doing to support the

aviation sector during the

1:00:121:00:15

negotiations?

The issue of

devolution has been delayed after

1:00:151:00:23

consultations between ourselves and

the Scottish Government and both

1:00:231:00:26

governments been satisfied with the

current arrangement. As to the

1:00:261:00:30

announcement by Ryanair, I believe

part of that announcement was also

1:00:301:00:33

that they would be extending the

number of routes out of Edinburgh

1:00:331:00:36

airport.

If we want to see

sustainable rising wages, we will

1:00:361:00:45

need to see higher productivity.

Does my honourable friend welcome

1:00:451:00:49

the recent improvement in these

figures that we have seen?

We have

1:00:491:00:54

seen two quarters of good activity

data but we should recognise that

1:00:541:00:59

the productivity challenge we face

in this country is long-term. The

1:00:591:01:03

government has taken a range of

measures to address it and we will

1:01:031:01:06

watch the evolution of this data

very carefully. But there is

1:01:061:01:12

certainly no scope for any

complacency about the scale of the

1:01:121:01:17

challenge that we face and we're

determined to rise it.

Artificial

1:01:171:01:24

intelligence brings huge economic

opportunities but to date big tech

1:01:241:01:28

companies have seemed even more

likely than traditional corporate is

1:01:281:01:32

to engage in aggressive tax

avoidance and concentrate power in a

1:01:321:01:37

narrow homogenous group of people.

What will the Chancellor do to

1:01:371:01:41

ensure companies in this growing

sector will pay and take account of

1:01:411:01:47

their wider corporate responsibility

to society?

The honourable lady will

1:01:471:01:51

know that we have made announcements

at the budget in respect of the...

1:01:511:01:55

Those that operate from digital

platforms and so create value as a

1:01:551:02:02

consequence, we are consulting on

the measures that we may take. We

1:02:021:02:04

have said in our consultation

document. It is possible we may look

1:02:041:02:08

at revenue taxes as a particular

approach ago but our preference is a

1:02:081:02:12

multilateral move with our partners

in the EU but we are prepared to go

1:02:121:02:18

it alone if that proves necessary.

The services sector makes a huge tax

1:02:181:02:24

contribution to the public purse.

What confidence can you give to my

1:02:241:02:30

constituents who work in financial

services that our new free trade

1:02:301:02:33

agreements will cover services as

well as goods?

We are clear that the

1:02:331:02:41

future comprehensive trade

partnership with the European Union

1:02:411:02:43

must include goats as well as

services. A deal can only be done if

1:02:431:02:47

it is fair to both sides -- include

goods as well as services. We have

1:02:471:02:56

heard it asserted that it is

impossible for services to part of a

1:02:561:02:59

trade agreement. I do not believe

that is the case and next week I

1:02:591:03:03

shall make a speech in which I will

set out our view of how it is

1:03:031:03:10

possible to include services within

such a trade deal.

The Chancellor

1:03:101:03:16

referred earlier to what he called

the continued prosperity in the UK.

1:03:161:03:20

Will he undertake to do two things,

one to ensure that the significance

1:03:201:03:26

of the tax system is undertaken by

looking at the level at which the

1:03:261:03:30

low paid, part-time and full-time

employees get the first £300 free of

1:03:301:03:36

national insurance each week?

We

will continue to seek to simplify

1:03:361:03:45

the tax system although I have to

say my personal observation is that

1:03:451:03:50

whenever a proposal is made to

simplify, those who benefit from

1:03:501:03:55

complexity is quickly speak up and

those are not always people on high

1:03:551:03:59

incomes, they are often on low

incomes as well so we shall continue

1:03:591:04:03

to try to simplify the system that

is fair and appropriate for all.

1:04:031:04:08

Whilst accepting that the MoD is in

need of serious reform as well as

1:04:081:04:11

more money, can the Chancellor

confirmed that he has agreed with

1:04:111:04:17

the Secretary of State for Defence

that there will be no further

1:04:171:04:20

reductions in capability of the

modernising defence review takes

1:04:201:04:22

place on the money required that in

the region of two million pounds

1:04:221:04:24

will be forthcoming?

As the House

will know I have the privilege to

1:04:241:04:30

serve the nearly three years as

Defence Secretary and I will one in

1:04:301:04:35

my operation in the work that our

Armed Forces do I also understand

1:04:351:04:39

how complex and challenging managing

the defence budget is being a

1:04:391:04:45

multi-annual budget with many

conflicts procurements in it. My

1:04:451:04:49

right honourable friend the Prime

Minister and myself are working very

1:04:491:04:52

carefully with our right honourable

friend the Defence Secretary as he

1:04:521:04:55

carries out the modernisation review

and we will ensure that defence has

1:04:551:05:00

the funding it needs to continue to

defend this country appropriately.

1:05:001:05:09

Thank you. North Derbyshire CCG

finished last year £27 million in

1:05:091:05:15

the red and £16 million of cuts were

demanded. In spite of closing

1:05:151:05:19

hospital beds at a time when name I

most needed, they will end this year

1:05:191:05:24

£27 million in the red again. When

will this government give the NHS

1:05:241:05:29

sustainable settlement to ensure

proper services?

We have given the

1:05:291:05:37

NHS sustainable settlement. The

received an additional £6.3 billion

1:05:371:05:41

but it is also important we reform

our health care services on that we

1:05:411:05:46

put in place the sustainable

transformation plans, that investing

1:05:461:05:51

capital and new technology and

making sure that we use our

1:05:511:05:54

fantastic front line workers, nurses

and doctors, in the best way

1:05:541:05:58

possible.

As the Chancellor knows,

investment in infrastructure is key

1:05:581:06:04

to ensure that we can build the

thousands of homes that this country

1:06:041:06:08

needs. Would the Chancellor agreed

to meet with me and other

1:06:081:06:13

Hertfordshire MPs and the leader of

Hertfordshire County Council to

1:06:131:06:15

discuss how we might be able to do

this in Hertfordshire, where we need

1:06:151:06:19

to deliver about 100,000 new homes?

Yes, Mr Speaker, I am always

1:06:191:06:25

delighted to meet with my honourable

friend and his colleagues and

1:06:251:06:28

Hertfordshire is one of the

high-pressure housing areas where it

1:06:281:06:31

is absolutely essential that we

deliver additional housing if we are

1:06:311:06:35

to improve affordability.

Cold

weather payments were triggered in

1:06:351:06:41

all postcodes in my constituency

yesterday. Information that I shared

1:06:411:06:46

on social media, yet a constituent

has got up to me this morning to say

1:06:461:06:50

that when she contacted Universal

Credit they said they knew nothing

1:06:501:06:53

about it. So could the Chancellor

work with colleagues in the

1:06:531:06:57

Department for Work and Pensions

given the freezing weather and the

1:06:571:07:00

fact that people will be nervous to

turn the heating on if they do not

1:07:001:07:03

know they can pay for it to resolve

this as soon as possible?

I'm

1:07:031:07:07

grateful to the honourable will look

into the point that she has raised

1:07:071:07:18

immediately. This is obviously an

immediate issue in relation to the

1:07:181:07:20

colder weather we're having now and

I will find out letter no later

1:07:201:07:23

today.

Of the discipline

1:07:231:07:25

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