The Growth Plan
Debate between Diana Johnson and Kwasi Kwarteng(2 years, 3 months ago)
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Kwasi Kwarteng
Just to remind my hon. Friend, investment zone conversations are very much being led by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who I am sure will be engaging with the relevant councils. I would be happy also to talk to my hon. Friend about the opportunities that investment zones represent.
Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
Can I take the Chancellor back to his party’s manifesto commitment on levelling up? What I want to know is: will the investment zones tackle the need for real infrastructure investment, for example, if he is really serious about growth, the need for electrification of the line to Hull, which was ruled out by the Conservative party’s integrated rail plan just last November for the next 30 years.? Will he look at that again, if he is serious about growth?
Kwasi Kwarteng
We are always looking at infrastructure projects and measuring their benefit to cost ratio. Investment zones are, of course, naturally allied to key bits of infrastructure and they have to be co-ordinated. That is one of the purposes of what we are announcing.
Corporate Transparency and Economic Crime
Debate between Diana Johnson and Kwasi Kwarteng(2 years, 10 months ago)
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Kwasi Kwarteng
As I have said to the House, we are introducing legislation and, in the customary way, there will be plenty of scope for right hon. and hon. Members to move amendments and to tweak the legislation in any way they see fit.
Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
The Secretary of State has been challenged several times this afternoon about the need for effective enforcement of any new legislation. What additional resources and support will be given to our law enforcement agencies to ensure that the legislation can be properly enforced?
Kwasi Kwarteng
My right hon. Friend the Minister for Security will address some of those issues in his Department. There is legislation currently under consideration that will give more powers to enforcement agencies. As far as my Department is concerned, we have campaigned successfully for more resources for Companies House so that it can become a much more effective watchdog than it currently is.
Gas Prices and Energy Suppliers
Debate between Diana Johnson and Kwasi Kwarteng(3 years, 3 months ago)
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Kwasi Kwarteng
As my hon. Friend knows, I am always prepared to meet him at any time to discuss any matter he chooses to discuss with me.
Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
Would the Minister still advise consumers to change their energy supplier, or would they just be better off changing their Government?
Kwasi Kwarteng
They had a chance to change their Government and, as I recall, that did not end so well for the Labour party, although maybe my memory fails me. We have a dynamic, vibrant and competitive market, and consumers should have a choice in order to keep their costs low.