Greece

Craig Mackinlay Excerpts

Monday 29th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Osborne]

I am not very impressed with anti-austerity crusaders who promise the earth and cannot deliver.

[Craig Mackinlay (South Thanet) (Con)]

The slide of the Greek economy has been long, slow and increasingly painful as it has lurched from one bail-out crisis to the next. The fundamental failure is, of course, the euro at its heart and I do not feel that a new deal now will do anything to solve that. Might a no vote next week be the best outcome, and will my right hon. Friend offer practical support to Greece when it inevitably and sensibly reinstates its own currency?

[Mr Osborne]

I completely respect my hon. Friend’s opinion, but it is better from my position to say that it is for the Greek people to decide in that referendum. Of course, whatever the outcome, my hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that we are there as a friend of Greece to help it at this troubled time whatever course it chooses to take.

Oral Answers to Questions

Craig Mackinlay Excerpts

Tuesday 16th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Osborne]

I welcome the hon. Lady to her new position on the shadow Treasury team. Of course we have to make difficult decisions to balance our budget. If we do not get our public finances in order there will not be any powerhouse in any part of the country, and that is what we are doing. It is disappointing that the Labour party, having worked out that it did not have any economic credibility, has started the new Parliament by opposing all the savings we make. As it happens, in the in-year savings I announced we have protected the local government settlement.

[Craig Mackinlay (South Thanet) (Con)]

5. What recent progress he has made in reducing the deficit.

[Mr Ranil Jayawardena (North East Hampshire) (Con)]

10. What recent progress he has made in reducing the deficit.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Greg Hands)]

Thanks to our long-term economic plan, the deficit has more than halved as a share of GDP from its post-war peak of 10.2% in 2009-10 to 4.8% by the end of last year, but the job of fixing the public finances is not yet complete.

[Craig Mackinlay]

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that competitive procurement continues across all Government Departments to ensure value for money for taxpayers in all that we do?

[Greg Hands]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his stellar victory in demolishing both the UK Independence party and Labour. I made a number of visits to his constituency, and I can say that he is truly one of the party’s finest campaigners. The Government remain committed to improving value for money in public procurement, building on the significant progress made in the previous Parliament. The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General and I meet regularly to discuss this, continuing the excellent work of Francis Maude.