Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Marcus Jones Excerpts
Tuesday 17th April 2018

(6 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Elizabeth Truss Portrait The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Elizabeth Truss)
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First, we have committed to building 300,000 homes per year over the next decade, which is vitally important to address the issue. Also, when we came into government, 80% of local government funding was being provided centrally, but we have now enabled local councils to raise that money. That is the right thing to do—people vote locally and councils should be accountable locally.

Marcus Jones Portrait Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con)
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We have heard encouraging news today about wages, but what more can Ministers do to help my constituents with the cost of living?

John Glen Portrait John Glen
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There are a number of challenges that need to be overcome for the poorest. We have increased the national living wage by 4.4%—to £7.83 an hour—and also the allowance that applies before people pay tax. We have made other changes, such as freezing fuel duty, to ensure we are doing all that we can for the hardest-working people in our communities.