Oral Answers to Questions

Karen Lumley Excerpts

Tuesday 8th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

6. What recent representations he has received on the level of the budget deficit.

[Karen Lumley (Redditch) (Con)]

12. What steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of the budget deficit.

[Mr Kwasi Kwarteng (Spelthorne) (Con)]

13. What steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of the budget deficit.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Osborne]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I have, of course, seen the IMF report, and the lesson we learned is that you have to fix the roof when the sun is shining. That is what the previous Government completely failed to do. They had 13 years to fix the national finances, and now it is up to us to clear up the mess that they left behind.

[Karen Lumley]

Has the Chancellor received any apologies from the previous Government for the mismanagement of the economy over the past 13 years?

[Mr Osborne]

No, but we did receive a letter from the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr Byrne), apologising for the fact that there was no money left. We will discuss this issue in the debate on the Queen’s Speech. I note that the Labour party has tabled a motion, which it is asking us all to vote for, noting

“the need for a clear plan to bring down the deficit”.

I look forward to hearing that clear plan in the shadow Chancellor’s speech.