Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lilian Greenwood and Danny Alexander

Tuesday 6th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

I welcome what my hon. Friend has said about the regional growth fund. With him, I have visited recipients of that fund in his constituency, and seen at first hand the benefits on Teesside. He will also welcome the fact that Teesside is a candidate in the next wave of city deals, which will provide an opportunity further to enhance the economy of that area. I hear his representation for a fourth round of the regional growth fund, and I will consider that alongside other policies in the normal way.

[Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)]

T3. Instead of insulting hard-working parents and calling them “fiscal nimbys”, will the Minister explain how it is fair that a couple earning up to £100,000 a year will keep all their child benefit, while a one-earner family on £50,000 will see theirs cut?

Youth Unemployment and Bank Bonuses

Debate between Lilian Greenwood and Danny Alexander

Monday 23rd January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

I agree with my hon. Friend: the apprenticeship programme is a vital part of tackling youth unemployment and lifting the skills in our work force. It is a real shame that the Opposition now seem to be opposing the extra investment in apprenticeships that we have made.

[Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)]

rose—

Public Service Pensions

Debate between Lilian Greenwood and Danny Alexander

Tuesday 20th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

I entirely agree. That is one of the abiding reasons why both the hon. Lady’s party and mine have sought to reform public service pensions for many years. As a result of the inequities in the current system, the contributions of hard-pressed low-income workers subsidise the pensions of the wealthiest public service workers. The new deals will mean that that will no longer happen.

[Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)]

Large increases in pension contributions combined with a continuing pay freeze will lead to a severe squeeze on living standards for nurses, teachers and other public service workers. What impact will that squeeze have on the wider economy, particularly in regions where there is a high proportion of public service employment?

[Danny Alexander]

There is a squeeze on living standards and, indeed, on our economy for a combination of reasons, including the crisis in the eurozone and the catastrophic mess that the hon. Lady’s party made of the economy. I think she should start by admitting that.

Public Service Pensions

Debate between Lilian Greenwood and Danny Alexander

Wednesday 2nd November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

I do indeed hope that the trade unions will examine the proposals carefully. I was encouraged when they said that they would at our meeting this morning. Of course trade unions need to take time to understand the impact of the changes, but I hope that on reflection they will accept that the new offer constitutes a generous enhancement from the Government, and a fair and reasonable basis on which to reach agreement in the scheme-by-scheme talks that will take place during the next couple of months.

[Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)]

The Chief Secretary said he believed that pension changes should be sustainable and fair. Will he confirm that he intends additional contributions to the local government pension scheme—which is a funded scheme—by scheme members to go straight to the Treasury rather than into their pension fund?

[Danny Alexander]

No, that is not correct.