Bank of England
Debate between Lord Shutt of Greetland and Lord Newby(10 years, 2 months ago)
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Lord Newby
My Lords, whatever one can say about the history of constitutional change in the UK, it has not been characterised by great speed. While there is now considerable urgency in dealing with consequential constitutional change in both Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, it will require a commitment by many people across all parties to bring that about—which in the past has been conspicuously lacking.
Lord Shutt of Greetland (LD)
My Lords, if there is to be any change, would not the name “Bank of Britain” be more solid, simple and straightforward?
Lord Newby
It might be, my Lords, but as I said in my initial Answer, I suspect that there will not be any change.
Northern Ireland: Corporation Tax
Debate between Lord Shutt of Greetland and Lord Newby(11 years, 9 months ago)
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Lord Newby
I am not absolutely sure what the noble Lord is asking me to confirm because no decision has yet been taken on corporation tax and Northern Ireland. The Government are sympathetic to much of what has been said on the Silk report and are now in discussion, as he is aware, with the Government in Wales.
Lord Shutt of Greetland
My Lords, bearing in mind that it is the rebalancing of the Northern Ireland economy that is the reason for people being concerned about the rate of corporation tax, and that is why the joint ministerial group gathered, were there any other ideas that came from that group that would assist the rebalancing of the Northern Ireland economy?
Lord Newby
My Lords, a number of measures were announced in the Autumn Statement aimed at rebalancing, or rather promoting, the Northern Ireland economy, including another £132 million of capital expenditure, science and technology funding for the research partnership at Queen’s University and the slightly earlier decision to give the Northern Ireland Assembly decision-making powers over air passenger duty on long-haul flights.