Oral Answers to Questions

David Simmonds Excerpts

Tuesday 11th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Chris Philp]

I have already explained that the normal statutory process is under way. When it comes to helping people on lower incomes, I mentioned the very significant increase in the minimum wage just a few months ago. We made an unprecedented intervention this year, amounting to £37 billion, which is disproportionately directed towards people on lower incomes. The one third of households on lower incomes are receiving an extra £1,200 this year.

The hon. Lady also referred to the fact that people earning £12,570 or less pay not a penny of national insurance and not a penny of income tax, which is thanks to the action of this Conservative Government.

[David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) (Con)]

14. What fiscal steps his Department is taking to encourage business innovation.

[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Richard Fuller)]

The Government are encouraging business innovation in many ways, of which I will enumerate four. As I mentioned to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk (George Freeman), there is a significant uplift in R&D expenditure, with £150 million of innovation loans over the spending period, research and development tax relief, long-term investment in technology and science—a competition is providing up to £500 million in Government support—and the British Business Bank is supporting innovative businesses, including through the future fund.

[David Simmonds]

Owners and entrepreneurs behind small businesses such as Code Ninjas in Bridge Street in my constituency are a key part of the Government’s growth agenda. What steps does my hon. Friend have in mind to enable such small and medium-sized enterprises to create further jobs and growth?

[Richard Fuller]

I am not sure if I got the name quite correct. Was it Comms Ninjas?

[David Simmonds]

Code Ninjas.

[Richard Fuller]

Oh, right. Perhaps I can visit my hon. Friend’s constituency to learn what the company does.

More generally, the growth plan focuses on important measures to support small businesses that wish to grow, including by making the £1 million annual investment allowance permanent, by looking to expand the amount of money that can be given through the seed enterprise investment scheme to help small businesses to grow and, most importantly, through the Government’s energy price support this winter.