Surplus Target and Corporation Tax

Debate between George Osborne and Nigel Mills

Monday 4th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing)]

The prize for patience goes to Nigel Mills.

[Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con)]

That is not a prize I get often. I welcome the Chancellor’s decision to further reduce the rate of corporation tax—I called for it in the Budget debate last week, so I ought to welcome it. To get the most benefit out of that, we need to simplify our business tax system further to make it more attractive. Will he therefore agree to hold a review to try to make our system as simple as it can be?

[Mr Osborne]

We are seeking to make our business tax system simpler, and our Office of Tax Simplification will be on a statutory footing and will help us. Let me be a bit discursive at the end here. In this job, I get many requests for tax reliefs and tax breaks for particular things, all of which are very worthy and sensible. They do, however, complicate the tax system. Sometimes the more difficult path is to say that welcome though lots of different reliefs would be, the simpler thing would be to reduce the rate. Broadly speaking—there are exceptions to this—that is the approach that I have followed and intend to follow in the future.

Bills Presented

Vehicle Noise Limits (Enforcement) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Kevin Foster, supported by Wendy Morton, Kit Malthouse, Mark Field and Michael Tomlinson, presented a Bill to make provision for the enforcement of noise limits for vehicles via automatic monitoring equipment; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 2 December, and to be printed (Bill 27).

Broadcasting (Radio Multiplex Services) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Kevin Foster, supported by Wendy Morton, Michael Tomlinson, Maggie Throup, Valerie Vaz, Peter Heaton-Jones, David Warburton, Kit Malthouse, Danny Kinahan and Mike Wood, presented a Bill to make provision about the regulation of small-scale radio multiplex services; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 13 January 2017, and to be printed (Bill 28).

Wild Animals in Circuses (Prohibition) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Kevin Foster, supported by James Heappey, Nusrat Ghani, Wendy Morton, Michael Tomlinson, Louise Haigh, Will Quince, Anna Turley, Simon Hoare, Mr Philip Hollobone, Bob Blackman and Jim Dowd, presented a Bill to prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 24 February 2017, and to be printed (Bill 29).

Animal Fighting (Sentencing) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Kevin Foster, supported by Nusrat Ghani, Wendy Morton, Michael Tomlinson, Jim Dowd, Anna Turley, Mr Philip Hollobone, Louise Haigh, Simon Hoare, Philip Boswell, Rebecca Pow and Dr Lisa Cameron, presented a Bill to amend the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to increase the sentence available to the court for those convicted of a criminal offence related to animal fighting; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 24 February 2017, and to be printed (Bill 30).

Local Audit (Public Access to Documents) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Wendy Morton, supported by Kevin Foster, Michael Tomlinson, Sir David Amess, Mary Robinson and Ben Howlett, presented a Bill to extend public access to certain local audit documents under section 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 25 November, and to be printed (Bill 31).

Crown Tenancies Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Wendy Morton, supported by Kevin Foster, Michael Tomlinson, Sir David Amess, Ben Howlett, Mark Pawsey and Jeremy Lefroy, presented a Bill to provide that Crown tenancies may be assured tenancies for the purposes of the Housing Act 1988, subject to certain exceptions; to modify the assured tenancies regime in relation to certain Crown tenancies; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 16 December, and to be printed (Bill 32) .

Highway Works (Weekend Working and Traffic Management Measures) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Wendy Morton, supported by Kevin Foster, Michael Tomlinson, Sir David Amess, Mary Robinson, Maggie Throup, Ben Howlett, Amanda Solloway, Jeremy Lefroy and Victoria Prentis, presented a Bill to regulate works on certain highways in England by making provision about weekend and bank holiday working and provision about removal of traffic lights and other traffic management measures after the completion of works.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 20 January 2017, and to be printed (Bill 33).

Local Authority Roads (Wildlife Protection) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Wendy Morton, supported by Kevin Foster, Michael Tomlinson, Sir David Amess and Anna Turley, presented a Bill to place a duty on local highways agencies and local transport authorities to make provisions safeguarding wildlife on roads passing through, or adjacent to, specified protected areas; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 3 February 2017, and to be printed (Bill 34).

Use of Property (Protection) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Michael Tomlinson presented a Bill to make provision about protecting existing and established use of property; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 21 October, and to be printed (Bill 35).

Road Traffic Offenders (Surrender of Driving Licences Etc) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Michael Tomlinson presented a Bill to make provision about the surrender, production or other delivery up of driving licences, or test certificates, in relation to certain offences; to make provision in relation to identifying persons in connection with fixed penalty notices, conditional offers and the payment of fixed penalties under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 January 2017, and to be printed (Bill 36).

Providers of Health and Social Care (Schemes under Section 71 of the National Health Service Act 2006) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Michael Tomlinson presented a Bill to amend section 71 of the National Health Service Act 2006 to enable schemes under that section to make provision to meet liabilities of health and social care providers in respect of integrated health and social care services.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 24 March 2017, and to be printed (Bill 37).

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (Safety Abroad) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Michael Tomlinson presented a Bill to require companies offering or marketing holiday accommodation in other countries to British citizens to undertake specified health and safety measures in relation to carbon monoxide emissions; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 24 March 2017, and to be printed (Bill 38).

Protection of Family Homes (Enforcement and Permitted Development) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Steve McCabe presented a Bill to make provision about guidance to local authorities on when to take enforcement action for breaches of planning law; to clarify guidance on the scope of permitted development rights; to make provision about rights and entitlements, including of appeal, for people whose homes are affected by such breaches; to make provision for the inspection and regulation of building under the permitted development regime; to establish financial penalties for developers who breach planning law in certain circumstances; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 28 October and to be printed (Bill 39).

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (Statutory Requirement) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Caroline Lucas, supported by Mrs Maria Miller, Kate Green, Teresa Pearce, Liz Saville Roberts, Barbara Keeley, Valerie Vaz, Thangam Debbonaire, Jess Phillips, Sarah Champion and Diana Johnson, presented a Bill to require the Secretary of State to provide that Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) be a statutory requirement for all state-funded schools; for PSHE to include Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) and education on ending violence against women and girls; to provide for initial and continuing teacher education and guidance on best practice for delivering and inspecting PSHE and SRE education; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 20 January 2017, and to be printed (Bill 40).

Housing (Tenants’ Rights) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Caroline Lucas, supported by Mr David Lammy, Mary Glindon and Jonathan Edwards, presented a Bill to establish a Living Rent Commission to conduct research into, and provide proposals for, reducing rent levels in the private rented sector and improving terms and conditions for tenants; to require the Secretary of State to report the recommendations of the Commission to Parliament; to introduce measures to promote long-term tenancies; to establish a mandatory national register of landlords and lettings agents; to prohibit the charging of letting or management agent fees to tenants; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 20 January 2017, and to be printed (Bill 41).

Railways Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Caroline Lucas, supported by Ian Mearns, Ian Lavery, John Cryer, Steve McCabe, Jonathan Edwards and Hywel Williams, presented a Bill to require the Secretary of State to assume control of passenger rail franchises when they come up for renewal; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 20 January 2017, and to be printed (Bill 42).

Animal Cruelty (Sentencing) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Anna Turley, supported by Kevin Foster, Alex Cunningham, Kerry McCarthy, Liz McInnes, Wendy Morton, Mr Philip Hollobone, Sarah Champion, Jim Dowd and Margaret Ferrier, presented a Bill to increase the maximum sentences available to the court for specified offences related to animal cruelty; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 24 February 2017, and to be printed (Bill 43).

Malicious Communications (Social Media) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Anna Turley, supported by Ruth Smeeth, Paula Sherriff, Chris Matheson, Angela Rayner, Louise Haigh, Melanie Onn, Jess Phillips, Justin Madders, Chris Elmore, Carolyn Harris and Helen Hayes, presented a Bill to make provision about offences, penalties and sentences in relation to communications containing threats transmitted or broadcast using online social media; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 24 March 2017, and to be printed (Bill 44).

Eurozone Crisis

Debate between George Osborne and Nigel Mills

Thursday 27th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Osborne]

I completely agree with my hon. Friend. It is a remarkable position for the Labour leader to take when he says:

“I don’t think Brussels has too much power.”

What sort of negotiation would it be if he were in charge?

[Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con)]

I, too, welcome the Chancellor’s efforts to protect British taxpayers from further bail-outs. I also welcome his statement that the International Monetary Fund exists to support countries that cannot support themselves, but I reiterate my concern that the IMF does not end up supporting a currency if a country chooses not to take the right action.

[Mr Osborne]

My hon. Friend has made a good point. The IMF exists to support countries, and supports 53 at present. It does not exist to support currencies.