Finance (No. 3) Bill

Debate between Lord Bruce of Bennachie and Helen Goodman

Tuesday 3rd May 2011 Commons Chamber

[Malcolm Bruce]

That is precisely why my hon. Friend the Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Sir Robert Smith) and I tabled the amendments. We want Ministers to begin in the process of building that trust.

The Government have made their case for this change and have defended it robustly on a number of occasions, but that is not the response that we need tonight. They have made their decision and I do not expect them to reverse it, because the Budget depends on it. What I expect them to do is engage with those in the industry, to explain the position to them, and to negotiate in detail on allowances and other flexible ways of ensuring that oil and gas that would otherwise be lost continue to be produced.

[Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)]

I understand that the right hon. Gentleman seeks flexibility on the part of Ministers and is trying to persuade them of the value of his case. If the Government give him a negative response, will he still vote with them at the end of the debate?

[Malcolm Bruce]

I think the answer is that I want to hear what the Minister has to say.