Oral Answers to Questions

Huw Merriman Excerpts

Wednesday 15th March 2017 Commons Chamber

The Prime Minister was asked—

[Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) (Con)]

Q1. If she will list her official engagements for Wednesday 15 March.

[The Prime Minister (Mrs Theresa May)]

I am sure that Members will want to join me in wishing people across the UK and around the world a happy St Patrick’s day this coming Friday.

This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

[Huw Merriman]

With my Irish blood, may I also wish people a happy St Patrick’s day?

I welcome the Government’s announcement that we will abide by the letter of our manifesto and also the spirit. Does the Prime Minister agree that, as we move towards balancing the books, we must ensure that we have a fair and sustainable tax system?

[The Prime Minister]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. We made a commitment not to raise tax, and we put our commitment into the tax lock. The measures that we put forward in the Budget last week were consistent with those locks. As a number of my parliamentary colleagues have been pointing out in recent days—[Interruption.]