Oral Answers to Questions

John Baron Excerpts

Tuesday 11th October 2022 Commons Chamber

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked—

[Mr John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)]

1. What fiscal steps he is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises.

[Ian Levy (Blyth Valley) (Con)]

2. What fiscal steps he is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Kwasi Kwarteng)]

My hon. Friend will know that the growth plan really was a very strong package for business and for small and medium-sized enterprises, and I am sure that many of his constituents will appreciate the strong measures that we introduced.

[Mr Baron]

I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

I welcome the Government’s growth agenda, notwithstanding the lack of reassurance to the markets, but will the Chancellor seriously consider lowering taxation on smaller businesses, despite the package that has already been announced? They are the engine room of the economy and employ most people in the private sector, and if cost savings are necessary, High Speed 2 and the streamlining of myriad quangos could be the first option.

[Kwasi Kwarteng]

I am very pleased to tell my hon. Friend that we are going to introduce the medium-term fiscal plan in three weeks’ time, but let us consider the measures that we have already introduced. National insurance hikes have been reversed, the corporation tax rise has been scrapped and the annual investment allowance remains at £1 million. These are measures that small businesses up and down the land have been very appreciative of.