Oral Answers to Questions

Drew Hendry Excerpts
Tuesday 27th April 2021

(3 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve Barclay Portrait Steve Barclay
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The Smith commission set out the conditions, and they already give substantial borrowing powers. That is why there is up to £450 million of annual capital borrowing, £700 million in the Scotland reserve and up to £600 million for resource borrowing in relation to forecast error, and of course that comes on top of the share of UK Government borrowing provided through the Barnett formula.

Drew Hendry Portrait Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP)
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What recent assessment he has made of the effect of his policies on living standards.

John Nicolson Portrait John Nicolson (Ochil and South Perthshire) (SNP)
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What recent assessment he has made of the effect of his policies on living standards.

Rishi Sunak Portrait The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rishi Sunak)
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The Government are committed to supporting household living standards during this difficult time for our country. That is why we announced an unprecedented package of support to protect people’s jobs and incomes and to help those most in need.

Drew Hendry Portrait Drew Hendry [V]
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It is approaching two years since this Government said that they would review the way in which dying people were treated through social security. Meanwhile, Marie Curie and many other campaigners for change estimate that as many as 6,000 people have died while waiting for a decision on their claims. This Government have repeatedly promised to end the six-month rule, which is currently forcing terminally ill people to prove how long they have left to live before they can access fast-track support, so can the Chancellor confirm that this long overdue reform will be in the Queen’s Speech?

Rishi Sunak Portrait Rishi Sunak
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It would be wrong for me to pre-empt the Queen’s Speech—I know that colleagues will understand that—but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend the Work and Pensions Secretary keeps all these matters under review, and of course we want to ensure that our welfare system is compassionate and effectively supports those who need our help.