Alan Reid
Main Page: Alan Reid (Liberal Democrat - Argyll and Bute)Department Debates - View all Alan Reid's debates with the HM Treasury
(11 years, 4 months ago)
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Danny Alexander
I think the hon. Lady was giving a back-handed welcome to the commitment that we made to affordable housing today. On rents, the policy that we have set out of CPI plus 1 for 10 years for uprating of rents saves the Government a growing amount of money in housing benefit payments for the simple reason that tenants rents will increase less fast than previously. That is good news for those individuals, and will save the Government money, as was announced in the costings document yesterday.
Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD)
I am delighted by the broadband announcement, but Scottish Government money is also required. In the current round, the Scottish National party Government reduced this Government’s target of 90% to only 75% in Argyll and Bute. Can the Chief Secretary please persuade the Scottish Government to put in their fair share of money so that the new targets can be met in Argyll and Bute?
Danny Alexander
I will certainly do my best. I should say that the additional £250 million will need local matching, including in Scotland from the Scottish Government, to get to 95% of my hon. Friend’s constituents and, I hope, to 99% in due course. I remind the House that this is one of the areas in which we are better together as one united kingdom.