Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Glen and Vince Cable

Tuesday 5th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[John Glen]

I always take my right hon. Friend’s words very seriously, and I am sure that he must be right.

[Sir Vince Cable (Twickenham) (LD)]

Britain is now a world leader in financial transparency and dealing with money laundering owing to the public register of beneficial ownership. What action do the Government propose to take to stop those standards being undermined by Crown dependencies, which rely on the British passport and British defence protection, but operate in a much more opaque manner?

[John Glen]

We are committed to introducing those registers by 2023. Since 2017, we have worked closely with law enforcement agencies through the mechanism of the exchange of notes with the overseas territories, and that has led us to unexplained wealth orders and the forfeiture of bank accounts.

Treasury

Debate between John Glen and Vince Cable

Tuesday 9th October 2018 Ministerial Corrections

[Sir Vince Cable (Twickenham) (LD)]

British families are currently spending considerably more than their disposable income and, as a consequence, debt levels in relation to income are rising back to crisis levels. At the same time, France and Germany have big savings surpluses. Which is the most sustainable of the two options?

[John Glen]

What is sustainable is that real household disposable income is up by 4.6% since 2010. I acknowledge that there are those who are experiencing challenges, and that is why I have set out the measures the Government are taking and are determined to take to assist those in a vulnerable position.

[Official Report, 11 September 2018, Vol. 646, c. 586.]

Letter of correction from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, the hon. Member for Salisbury (John Glen):

An error has been identified in the response I gave to the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Sir Vince Cable).

The correct response should have been:

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Glen and Vince Cable

Tuesday 11th September 2018 Commons Chamber

[John Glen]

I thank my hon. Friend for reminding us of those facts. During the Labour Government, there was also an increase in the welfare budget of 65%, or £84 billion in real terms. We have to spend money wisely, and my hon. Friend’s observations are welcome.

[Sir Vince Cable (Twickenham) (LD)]

British families are currently spending considerably more than their disposable income and, as a consequence, debt levels in relation to income are rising back to crisis levels. At the same time, France and Germany have big savings surpluses. Which is the most sustainable of the two options?

[John Glen]

What is sustainable is that real household disposable income is up by 4.6% since 2010. I acknowledge that there are those who are experiencing challenges, and that is why I have set out the measures the Government are taking and are determined to take to assist those in a vulnerable position.[Official Report, 9 October 2018, Vol. 647, c. 1MC.]