"My Lords, does the noble Lord the Financial Secretary agree that fiscal responsibility should lie at the heart of the devolutionary settlement? Does he agree that maintaining fiscal credibility would be a particular challenge in the event of Scotland becoming independent? Is he aware that the Irish Free State had …..." Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court - View Speech
"My Lords, I share the Minister’s frustration and welcome the Government’s efforts to grip the issue. Does she agree that, whatever happens to the ownership of Thames Water, substantial investment will be required in water in the south-east? Does she also agree that a degree of realism is necessary about …..." Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court - View Speech
"My Lords, does the Financial Secretary agree that, rather than increasing revenues, an oil price of more than $100 a barrel is far more likely to reduce them because of the wider effect on the economy? Does he agree that, at a time like this, when revenues are likely to …..." Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court - View Speech
"My Lords, I encourage the Financial Secretary not to become mesmerised by IMF forecasts. The British economy has proved remarkably resilient over the past 18 years in the face of a succession of shocks. Generally, the Government have got into difficulty when the Treasury and the Bank have done too …..." Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court - View Speech
"My Lords, does the Minister agree that the effectiveness of expenditure is as important as the level of expenditure? Can he tell the House what the MoD is doing to improve the efficiency of defence spending?..." Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court - View Speech
"My Lords, I declare my interest as chairman of the Scottish American Investment Company. I understand why the Government would want to take a reserve power, given the persistent failure of the City of London—one of the biggest global financial centres—to provide equity finance to British industry over 150 years. …..." Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court - View Speech
"My Lords, I will speak in support of Amendment 243E, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Layard. It is late, and I promise to be brief.
In Committee, a cross-party group of Peers spoke in support of an amendment that would have guaranteed a place on an apprenticeship to every …..." Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court - View Speech
"My Lords, it is axiomatic that, if you want to land a difficult message, it is best to start with some positives: so here goes. First, all credit to the Government for sticking to their fiscal rules, and increasing their safety margin. I admit that I had my doubts this …..." Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court - View Speech
"My Lords, I will speak very briefly in the gap. First, I should mention that I, too, make regular use of canal tow-paths: I often walk along the Grand Union Canal, either through Camden and Islington or, mainly, from Boston Manor, through Osterley and down to the Thames in Brentford. …..." Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court - View Speech
"My Lords, does the Minister agree that it is an important principle of the tax system that tax reliefs, and therefore tax expenditures, should be tightly drawn? Does he also agree that the point of pension relief is to provide a pension in retirement, and therefore that pension savers should …..." Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court - View Speech