Oral Answers to Questions

Jake Berry Excerpts

Tuesday 17th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

It is customary to present forecasts for fiscal events over the forecast period which, as we progress through this Parliament, will stretch beyond its end. That is how it has always been done, and it would not be helpful to give the House only a shorter horizon.

[Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con)]

rose—

[James Berry (Kingston and Surbiton) (Con)]

rose—

--- Later in debate ---

[Jane Ellison]

I always listen to what the Chairman of the Treasury Committee says. I am considering the Committee’s very useful report carefully. Of course, it acknowledged that the digitisation of the tax service represents the direction in which we should be travelling, but we are looking carefully at the possible impacts on small businesses, many thousands of which we have already exempted through our existing announcements.

[Jake Berry]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

I think it is Lancashire’s turn.

[Jake Berry]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. On the subject of berries, does my right hon. Friend the Chancellor share my concern that too many JAMs are becoming jam tomorrow with the ballooning of household debt? What steps will he take to stop inappropriate and irresponsible lending by credit card companies and banks to low-income households?

[Mr Philip Hammond]

The Government and the regulatory authorities take appropriate measures to prevent inappropriate lending and to make sure that credit products are not mis-sold, and we will continue to do so.