Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

George Freeman Excerpts

Wednesday 28th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Mel Stride]

The hon. Gentleman should join us on the Conservative Benches, because we are the party that is standing four-square behind North sea oil and gas extraction. We do that for a very important economic reason.

It is right that the national minimum wage not going up by as much as it might otherwise have done will help business. The Leader of the Opposition welcomed that. We have also seen a lowering of business rates for some businesses. The mileage changes with HMRC will no doubt be slightly helpful, particularly for the self-employed.

However, the Chancellor also came forward with a reduction in the business asset disposal relief—he has halved it, making it less of an incentive for people to set up businesses. I looked at the figures in the Red Book, and it seems that there are £5 billion-worth of additional taxes on businesses across this forecast—an increase of £2 billion in additional taxes across inward investment into our economy.

In conclusion, the lights are flashing on the UK economy. We have huge challenges ahead, and it is not good enough simply to rely on saying that we can be steady as we go.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

Like me, my right hon. Friend represents a very rural constituency. Was he shocked to hear the lack of any relief for rural areas, which are being hammered by disproportionately high energy costs? The Treasury’s own figures show that the risk of fuel poverty in rural areas is 150% higher than in cities. We heard about money for cities, but nothing for our rural areas and rural businesses, which are being hammered, and where we are seeing stagflation and inflation and taxes and interest rates going up. There was nothing for rural areas.

[Sir Mel Stride]

Absolutely. My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The absence of anything about farmers in the statement was palpable. One might think that the Chancellor might at least have said something about the farm tax, which is still hanging around the necks of our farmers up and down the country.

Oral Answers to Questions

George Freeman Excerpts

Monday 24th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Al Carns]

The veterans ID card is a fantastic initiative that has now been rolled out for most veterans. We have thousands of applications a week and will continue to endeavour to ensure that they get delivered in the most timely and effective manner. Anybody who is interested in veterans’ welfare issues or the services available should go to the gov.uk website and type in “veterans support”, and there will be a plethora of different avenues for them to unlock.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

T7.  Mid Norfolk is a proud rural and military constituency with many employees working at RAF Marham and Swanton Morley barracks, which is home to the Queen’s Dragoon Guards and many cadets and veterans. A few years ago, we managed to secure the extension of Swanton Morley barracks, which had been scheduled for closure. Does the welcome defence surge mean that its closure, slated for 2031, might be reviewed?

[Maria Eagle]

I cannot give the hon. Gentleman an answer right now, but I am certainly happy to look into it and meet him, if he wants a meeting, or write to him.

Army Basing Plan

George Freeman Excerpts

Tuesday 5th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

That is slightly off the beam of the regular Army basing announcement. It is certainly my intention, once the recruiting campaign for reserves gets under way this year, to publish routinely—I think quarterly would be most appropriate—the recruiting data for the reserves. My hon. Friend is right that success in delivering our reserves programme is a crucial part of the Army 2020 plan. I will reflect on his suggestion that the cost of the reserve programme should be published, although I am not so sure it will be that easy to identify and isolate it.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

I warmly welcome the announcement and congratulate the Secretary of State on the quiet competence he and his team have shown in putting it together, which is in stark contrast to the disgraceful financial planning we inherited from the Labour party. I particularly welcome the announcement that Swanton Morley in my constituency will be the home of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards, whom we will welcome as we did the Light Dragoons, and one of the seven consolidated centres. For some strange reason, that did not appear in the written statement, so will the Secretary of State confirm that I have understood him correctly?

[Mr Hammond]

I can indeed confirm that the 1st Battalion the Queen’s Dragoon Guards will be going to Swanton Morley and that Swanton Morley, together with Colchester, will form one of the seven hubs.

Oral Answers to Questions

George Freeman Excerpts

Monday 20th February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (Con)]

15. What plans he has for defence deployments to the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

16. What plans he has for defence deployments to the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond)]

The Ministry of Defence routinely deploys a range of military assets in defence of the Falkland Islands and in fulfilment of our standing Atlantic Patrol, South task. Despite media speculation to the contrary, there has been no recent change to force levels. There is no evidence of any current credible military threat to the security of the Falkland Islands, and therefore no current plan for significant changes to force deployments. However, Her Majesty’s Government are committed to defending the right of the Falkland Islanders to self-determination, and plans exist for rapid reinforcement of the land, sea and air forces in and around the islands should any such threat appear.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Hammond]

That is the position of Her Majesty’s Government. We will not discuss the issue of sovereignty of the Falkland Islands unless at any time it becomes the islanders’ wish that we should do so.

[George Freeman]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the UK has important strategic interests in the south Atlantic, not least in energy security, the important work done by the British Antarctic Survey on climate change and the geopolitics of the Antarctic? Will he update the House on any discussions that he has had with our allies regarding the defence of the Falklands?

[Mr Hammond]

The defence of the Falklands is an integral part of our overall military tasks, and I regularly discuss the conduct of those tasks with our allies as appropriate.