Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Brown Excerpts
Tuesday 17th April 2018

(6 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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My hon. Friend raises an important issue, which is probably best listened to very carefully by some of those on the Opposition Benches. I can only speak for the UK Government here in this House, and we will continue to be on the side of businesses, small and large, to ensure that their tax burden is as low as possible.

Alan Brown Portrait Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
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Lines ag and bg of the spring 2017 Budget predicted that the cuts in corporation tax would cost the Treasury over £24 billion by 2022. If the Treasury had had that money to invest in infrastructure and construction, how many well paid construction jobs could the money have created?

Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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Let me make two simple points. First, corporation tax cuts are clearly to the benefit of businesses who employ people, create wealth and generate the taxes we need to fund our vital public services. Secondly, we have cut corporation tax from 28% to 19% since 2010, and the corporate tax take has risen by 50%.