Economy Update

Eleanor Laing Excerpts

Wednesday 16th June 2021 Commons Chamber

[Steve Barclay]

I do not accept that. Looking at the vaccine programme that the UK has had thanks to the huge efforts of our NHS, volunteers and so many people in communities up and down the country, I would not characterise it as an abject failure. Actually, our deployment of vaccines is the envy of many countries, and it is key to the road map.

For Tip Top Linen Services, and businesses across the United Kingdom, we have provided a comprehensive package of support, as I set out in a number of responses. That is key to those important businesses being able to bounce back as the road map moves to step 4.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

I call Dame Andrea, whom I congratulate on her extremely well deserved honour.

[Dame Andrea Leadsom (South Northamptonshire) (Con)]

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. My right hon. Friend will be aware that some people who have been furloughed during lockdown have taken on other jobs. A big hotel and golf complex—a family-owned business in South Northamptonshire—furloughed about 300 staff. When it came to unlocking and it called back all those staff, around half of them resigned because they already had other jobs at supermarkets, delivery companies and so on. What can my right hon. Friend do, first, to protect the taxpayer from people effectively earning double pay, and also to stop that happening to the huge detriment of this family-run business?

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Barclay]

We have already covered the point that furlough has been extended until the end of September. As I said in my answer only a moment ago, there are specific sectoral support packages in addition to that. At the same time, we need to get the balance right between that and the very considerable cost to the Exchequer—borrowing £200 billion last year and with significant further borrowing this year and next. We need to get the balance right between that level of borrowing and the wider package of support offered.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

I appreciate that these are complex issues and that the Chief Secretary is being most assiduous in giving full answers, but I wonder if we could go just a little faster now. We have a lot of business to get through, which means people have to ask questions, not make statements.

[Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con)]

Nobody in this House, or indeed in Blackpool South, wanted to see a pause in our road map of easing restrictions. Does my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury agree that this short delay is necessary so that we can proceed irreversibly out of lockdown, build back better from covid and, finally, begin to get our public finances back in order?

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Barclay]

I absolutely agree, and I think that the importance of securing private investment is a very good note on which to end. My hon. Friend will know that in May, on the consumer prices index, inflation rose to 2.1% and the Monetary Policy Committee judged:

“Inflation expectations remained well anchored.”

However, with debt at nearly 100% of GDP, we need to pay close attention. To finish on a more sobering note, perhaps, a sustained increase in inflation by one percentage point would increase debt interest spending by £6.9 billion in ’25-26, so my hon. Friend raises—as did the hon. Member for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves)—an important point that the House needs to keep under review.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

I thank the Chief Secretary and everyone who took part in the statement for getting through it in 58 and a half minutes. That always keeps the occupant of the Chair happy.

I would like to take a second to thank Sir Roy Stone for his extraordinary, long and patient service to this House; I cannot imagine this place without him. I know that we all wish him well.

We come to the result of today’s deferred Division on the Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2021. The Ayes were 363 and the Noes were 263, so the Ayes have it.

[The Division list is published at the end of today’s debates.]

We now come to the exciting annual event of the presentation of Bills, which have arisen as a result of the private Members’ Bills ballot. We have 20 such Bills. Contrary to the normal procedure when Members queue up behind the Chair, I hope that all 20 Members are either now in their places, or ready to participate virtually.

Bills Presented

Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Mark Jenkinson presented a Bill to extend the duty to provide careers guidance in schools.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 10 September, and to be printed (Bill 14).

Employment and Trade Union Rights (Dismissal and Re-engagement) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Barry Gardiner, supported by Robert Halfon, Gavin Newlands, Christine Jardine, Caroline Lucas, Sammy Wilson, Ben Lake, Andy McDonald, Dawn Butler, Darren Jones and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, presented a Bill to amend the law relating to workplace information and consultation, employment protection and trade union rights to provide safeguards for workers against dismissal and re-engagement on inferior terms and conditions; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 22 October, and to be printed (Bill 15).

Menopause (Support and Services) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Carolyn Harris, supported by Judith Cummins, Peter Dowd, Rosie Duffield, Nick Smith, Karin Smyth, Jim Shannon, Tracey Crouch, Jackie Doyle-Price, Tim Loughton and Caroline Nokes, presented a Bill to make provision about menopause support and services; to exempt hormone replacement therapy from National Health Service prescription charges; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 29 October, and to be printed (Bill 16).

Down Syndrome Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Dr Liam Fox, supported by Ben Lake, Ian Paisley, Dr Lisa Cameron, Mark Logan, Nick Fletcher, Layla Moran, Darren Jones, James Daly, Mrs Flick Drummond and Elliot Colburn presented a Bill to make provision about meeting the needs of persons with Down syndrome; to place a duty on local authorities to assess the likely social care needs of persons with Down syndrome and plan provision accordingly; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 26 November, and to be printed (Bill 17).

Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Sajid Javid, supported by Mrs Pauline Latham, Robert Halfon, Sir Graham Brady,

Philip Davies, Sarah Champion, Mrs Maria Miller, Alun Cairns, Fiona Bruce, Siobhan Baillie, Mr Virendra Sharma and Ms Nusrat Ghani, presented a Bill to make provision about the minimum age for marriage and civil partnership; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 19 November, and to be printed (Bill 18).

Copyright (Rights and Remuneration of Musicians, Etc.) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Kevin Brennan, supported by Ms Karen Buck, Damian Green, Alex Davies-Jones,

Claire Hanna, Sir Greg Knight, Ben Lake, Esther McVey, Abena Oppong-Asare, Jim Shannon, David Warburton and Pete Wishart, presented a Bill to make provision about the rights and remuneration of musicians and other rights holders; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 3 December, and to be printed (Bill 19).

Medical Cannabis (Access) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Jeff Smith presented a Bill to make provision about access to cannabis for medical reasons; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 10 December, and to be printed (Bill 20).

Climate Change Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Colum Eastwood, supported by Clare Hanna, presented a Bill to place a duty on the government to declare a climate emergency; to amend the Climate Change Act 2008 to bring forward the date by which the United Kingdom is required to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions; to place a duty on the Government to create and implement a strategy to achieve objectives related to climate change, including for the creation of environmentally-friendly jobs; to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on proposals for increased taxation of large companies to generate revenue to be spent to further those objectives; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 10 December and to be printed (Bill 21).

Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Peter Gibson, supported by Daniel Zeichner, Caroline Nokes, Mr Robert Goodwill, Sarah Champion, Sir John Hayes, Ms Nusrat Ghani, Esther McVey, Ms Harriet Harman and Lee Anderson, presented a Bill to make provision about licensing in relation to taxis and private hire vehicles for purposes relating to the safeguarding of passengers and road safety; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 10 September, and to be printed (Bill 22).

Planning (Enforcement) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Dr Ben Spencer presented a Bill to create offences relating to repeat breaches of planning controls; to make provision about penalties for planning offences; to establish a national register of persons who have committed planning offences or breached planning controls and make associated provision about planning applications; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 19 November, and to be printed (Bill 23).

Cultural Objects (Protection from Seizure) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Mel Stride presented a Bill to extend the protection from seizure or forfeiture given to cultural objects.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 10 September, and to be printed (Bill 24).

Pension Schemes (Conversion of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Margaret Ferrier presented a Bill to make provision about the amendment of pension schemes so as to provide for the conversion of rights to a guaranteed minimum pension.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 26 November, and to be printed (Bill 25).

Childcare Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Matt Rodda presented a Bill to enable provision to be made for appeals relating to free childcare for young children of working parents to be settled by agreement; to make further provision designed to increase efficiency in the administration of free childcare schemes; to make provision about the promotion of the availability of free childcare, including to disadvantaged groups; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 29 October, and to be printed (Bill 26).

Glue Traps (Offences) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Jane Stevenson presented a Bill to make certain uses of glue traps an offence; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 19 November, and to be printed (Bill 27).

Acquired Brain Injury Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Chris Bryant presented a Bill to make provision about meeting the needs of adults and children with an acquired brain injury; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 3 December, and to be printed (Bill 28).

Local Government (Disqualification) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Sir Paul Beresford presented a Bill to make provision about the grounds on which a person is disqualified from being elected to, or holding, certain positions in local government in England.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 22 October, and to be printed (Bill 29).

Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Jeremy Wright presented a Bill to make provision relating to the carrying of disabled persons by taxis and private hire vehicles.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 14 January 2022, and to be printed (Bill 30).

Hare Coursing Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Richard Fuller presented a Bill to make provision about hare coursing offences; to increase penalties for such offences; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 21 January 2022, and to be printed (Bill 31).

Animals (Penalty Notices) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Andrew Rosindell, supported by Sir David Amess, Tom Hunt, Mrs Sheryll Murray, Bob Stewart, Alexander Stafford, Theresa Villiers, Chris Grayling, Miss Sarah Dines, Henry Smith, Bill Wiggin and Joy Morrissey, presented a Bill to make provision for and in connection with the giving of penalty notices for certain offences in relation to animals and animal products.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 29 October, and to be printed (Bill 32).

British Sign Language Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Rosie Cooper presented a Bill to declare British Sign Language (BSL) an official language of the United Kingdom; to provide for a British Sign Language Council to promote and advise on the use of BSL; to establish principles for the use of BSL in public services; to require public bodies to have regard to those principles and to guidance issued by the Council; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 28 January 2022, and to be printed (Bill 33).

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

Thank you. That concludes the presentation of all 20 private Members’ Bills, and I wish them well. I will now suspend the House for three minutes in order that arrangements can be made for the next item of business.