National Insurance Contributions Bill (First sitting)

Debate between Emma Lewell-Buck and Jesse Norman

Committee stage
Tuesday 22nd June 2021 Public Bill Committees

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

Will the Minister give way?

[Jesse Norman]

No, I think we have had quite enough discussion of this topic. If the hon. Lady is going to raise a new point, of course I am happy to take the question.

[Mrs Lewell-Buck]

I am. The Minister says that he is confident about the argument he is making, and that the Government believe they are on the right track. With these new clauses, all the Opposition are asking the Government to do is evaluate and assess the decisions that they have made. Why will the Minister not do that, if he is confident about what they are doing?

[Jesse Norman]

As I have explained, we already have in place processes of evaluation and assessment. We will be following them, and this reflects an extensive process. It is lovely to see the Labour party waking up at last after its long slumbers, but the question that the hon. Lady raises is not, in fact, a new question; it is a reiteration of the same question, so I am going to stick with the answers I have already given.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 6 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 7 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 8

Upper secondary threshold for earnings

Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.