Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Pritchard Excerpts

Tuesday 29th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

I can remember one particular tax simplification from the last Government, which was the abolition of the 10p rate. I think we have a better record than that.

[Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con)]

Following on from my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Priti Patel), who made her case well, given that the Exchequer benefited from the courageous decision to reduce the top rate of tax from 50p to 45p, may I encourage the Chancellor to go even further in the Budget and reduce the top rate of tax to 40p, in order to see more funds come into the Exchequer?

[Mr Gauke]

I will take that as a Budget representation. The point is that the 50p rate was not effective in raising revenue—my hon. Friend is absolutely right to make that point—and it was damaging to our competitiveness. There are better ways in which we can get more money from the wealthiest, and that is exactly what this Government have done.