Tax Avoidance (HSBC)

Debate between Derek Twigg and David Gauke

Monday 9th February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

That is a very good question for the shadow Chancellor. It is a pity he is not here today.

[Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)]

In his statement, the Minister said that the information was passed to HMRC under conditions restricting what it could be used for. Will he enlighten the House on what those conditions were and whether Ministers were consulted about the nature of those restrictions?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Derek Twigg and David Gauke

Tuesday 4th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)]

15. What recent comparative assessment he has made of growth in average earnings and the rate of inflation since May 2010.

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)]

Inflation is at 1.2%—lower than at any point since 2009. We appreciate that times have been tough for families in recent years, but as the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said, that is

“a direct but delayed result of the 2008 recession”.

Since May 2010, this Government have taken decisive action to support families. We have increased the personal allowance, frozen fuel duty and council tax, and cut energy bills. In the past year, unemployment has fallen at the fastest rate since records began, and the proportion of workless households is lower than it ever was under the previous Government.

[Derek Twigg]

For how many months under this Government have wages risen faster than prices?

[Mr Gauke]

We have gone through a difficult period, but, as I said, that is

“a direct but delayed result of the 2008 recession”.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Derek Twigg and David Gauke

Tuesday 11th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)]

My hon. Friend will be aware of the paper that HMRC produced at the time of the last Budget, in which it set out the ways in which we would reduce the administrative burden on small businesses, including cash accounting. He mentioned the difficulties in getting through to HMRC and the problems with the contact centres. HMRC is making further investments and employing an additional 1,000 people in order to improve the performance at its contact centres.

[Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)]

T7. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury was asked earlier about the cost of living, but he said nothing in his reply about what the Government were doing about rising food, transport and energy prices. Have he and his colleagues had discussions with the Energy Secretary about getting a grip on the energy companies and sorting out the soaring energy prices and the profits that the companies are making as a result?

Budget Leak Inquiry

Debate between Derek Twigg and David Gauke

Thursday 22nd March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

I agree. The focus on process not substance is very revealing.

[Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)]

I congratulate the Minister on some excellent press management this morning, and on the headlines, which have been very helpful to us. But I want to be helpful, so that he can be specific about the area of suspicion. Can he now say that no Treasury Minister directly, or special adviser indirectly on their behalf, gave information to the press about any Budget measures prior to the Budget yesterday?

[Mr Gauke]

Just to be clear, I will give the hon. Gentleman a Budget measure that was confirmed yesterday: personal tax statements. Ministers were aware that we were going to inform the press about personal tax statements, so the question he asks is extremely broad. There were measures announced yesterday in which Ministers were involved, but I am not aware of any Minister being aware of the briefing of market-sensitive information.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Derek Twigg and David Gauke

Tuesday 8th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

It is clearly very important that we have credible growth projections. We look forward to hearing the projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility. As for the previous Government’s record, time will tell.

[Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)]

Transport infrastructure is of course important for economic growth, and as the hon. Gentleman’s right hon. Friend the Chancellor will know, as a Cheshire MP, there is a very important project, the Mersey Gateway project, which is crucial to the economic regeneration of Cheshire and Merseyside. Will that be excluded from the proposed cuts that his Government are making?

[Mr Gauke]

The Government will make a decision on all matters considering the value for money and considering the very difficult financial circumstances that we find ourselves in, bequeathed by the previous Government.