Investing in Britain’s Future

Debate between Jack Dromey and Danny Alexander

Thursday 27th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

Those representations certainly will be heard as the Department for Transport and the Highways Agency develop their plans for that important route.

[Jack Dromey (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab)]

The £3 billion investment in affordable house building will not make up for the cuts in 2010 that led to a 29% collapse last year, will do nothing for affordable house building this year or next, and therefore mean five wasted years under this Government. May I ask the Chief Secretary this question: is it true that the amount announced today is less than in the last two comprehensive spending reviews?

[Danny Alexander]

As I said in my statement, and the hon. Gentleman should welcome this, we will through this announcement be building more homes on average every year than in any year but one under the previous Government. Frankly, he should be ashamed of the fact that the number of affordable homes in this country fell by 420,000 during his party’s time in office—a total disgrace.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Debate between Jack Dromey and Danny Alexander

Thursday 28th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

I will give way to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Jack Dromey), then I will press on.

[Jack Dromey (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab)]

The House has waited in vain for a straight answer to a straight question. I know the right hon. Gentleman would like to take credit for the sun shining, and indeed for the imprint on the Turin shroud, but will he give a straight answer to the straight question asked by my right hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh South (Mr Darling), the former Chancellor of the Exchequer? Is it true or untrue that the growth in the first three quarters of 2010 is a direct result of the measures taken by the previous Government to build Britain out of recession?

[Danny Alexander]

The last quarter of growth—Opposition Members were hoping that things would be worse than they are, which is a pretty poor foundation for any sort of economic policy—took place since the Budget. [Interruption.] Of course the previous Chancellor deserves credit for that much of his work in office—[Interruption.]