Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

John Healey Excerpts
Tuesday 11th September 2012

(12 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Danny Alexander Portrait Danny Alexander
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My hon. Friend is right to say that transition status has benefited regions such as his—and, indeed, mine in the highlands and islands—during the current multiannual financial framework period. Our principal objective in relation to the budget negotiations is to bring down the total EU budget in recognition of what is going on around Europe, but we will happily discuss further with him his concerns about the issues that he has raised to ensure that we secure a fair deal for impoverished regions of this country as well.

John Healey Portrait John Healey (Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab)
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Legislation for Government borrowing guarantees to help to fund infrastructure is due to be presented to the House next week. The Chancellor is right to try to use the power of government in this way, so why has it taken two and a half years, and nine months of double-dip recession, for him to decide to do it?

George Osborne Portrait Mr George Osborne
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Can I just say—