Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Dave Doogan Excerpts
Tuesday 27th January 2026

(1 day, 8 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rachel Reeves Portrait Rachel Reeves
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We were pleased to be able to allocate Pride in Place funding to my hon. Friend’s constituency, in recognition of its levels of deprivation. That comes alongside policies such as getting rid of the cruel two-child benefit cap, which the previous Government introduced, and investing record amounts in social housing. This Government are delivering for the people of Blackpool. I am very happy to meet my hon. Friend.

Dave Doogan Portrait Dave Doogan (Angus and Perthshire Glens) (SNP)
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Constituents of mine have restored the Alyth hotel. It has gone from near dereliction to being an outstanding venue for dining and drinking, and a hotel. However, they are smothered by the compound burden of VAT rates, wage costs, duty increases, employer national insurance contributions, energy costs and the squeeze on spending. That is why there were 8,000 fewer jobs in hospitality in December than in November, and 20,000 fewer than in September. Will the Chancellor consider reducing VAT on hospitality to the 7% it is in Germany, the 9% it is in Ireland, or the 10% it is in Spain and Italy?

Rachel Reeves Portrait Rachel Reeves
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I suggest that the people of Scotland ask who was in charge in Scotland for the last two decades, kick them out at the next election, and give Labour a chance.