Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona Mactaggart Excerpts

Tuesday 1st November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Osborne]

This is the Government who have introduced additional charges for long-staying non-doms; Labour had 13 years in which to do that, but they did not. This is the Government who have concluded a tax treaty with Switzerland; the previous Government had an opportunity to do that—[Interruption.] Well, this is what a Europe Minister in the last Government said:

“Swiss…deal offered to HMG…more than decade ago but GB turned it down thus losing billions in revenue”.

They had 13 years to deal with tax avoidance and evasion. We are dealing with it now, while they must account for their new general election strategist.

[Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab)]

4. What assessment he has made of the effects of the 2011 Budget on unemployment amongst women.

[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Miss Chloe Smith)]

The Office for Budget Responsibility published its unemployment forecasts in March 2011, taking full account of announcements at Budget 2011, but it does not publish forecasts by gender. The Government are committed to tackling unemployment and helping support women into work. The hon. Lady will be aware that female employment has remained broadly steady since the start of 2008. Employment among women aged 25 to 64 is up more than 100,000 since the start of 2008, and has risen by 15,000 in the last three months.

[Fiona Mactaggart]

But with both women’s unemployment and the retail prices index at a higher level than at any time since the Chancellor left university—which was probably when the hon. Lady left primary school— [Interruption.] I do not—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. All this noise slows down progress. Let’s get on.

[Fiona Mactaggart]

I was welcoming a young woman to the Front Bench, and I am glad to see young people representing people in this Parliament, but I do think it is shocking that we currently have the highest level of unemployment in more than 20 years—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I just say to the hon. Lady that what I want is a question with a question mark.

[Fiona Mactaggart]

Is it not time that this Government delivered for women on employment, and may I suggest that support for women entrepreneurs and delivering promises that they made before the election for 3,000 more midwives and 4,000 extra—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We have got the point.