Oral Answers to Questions

Matt Hancock Excerpts

Tuesday 6th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Patience rewarded: I call Mr Matthew Hancock.

[Matthew Hancock (West Suffolk) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Does my right hon. Friend agree with the statement made this morning:

“The last Labour government didn’t regulate the banks properly. That’s what caused the financial crisis”—

not my words but those of the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband)—or does he, like me, think that it was caused not just by a failure to regulate the banks but by the Labour Government spending more money than they had?

[Mr George Osborne]

Of course, it was a double failure: the catastrophic failure of Labour Ministers, including the then City Minister, the right hon. Member for Morley and Outwood (Ed Balls); and the failure to get a grip on public spending. We are having to clean up both messes at the moment.

Bill Presented

Planning Applications (Appeals by Town and Parish Councils)

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Martin Caton, supported by Philip Davies, Mr Elfyn Llwyd, Andrew George, Caroline Lucas, Bob Blackman, Paul Flynn, Kate Hoey, Robert Halfon, Steve McCabe, Kelvin Hopkins and Sir Bob Russell, presented a Bill to allow town and parish councils to appeal against the granting of planning permission in their area in certain circumstances; to make provisions for Wales; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 April, and to be printed (Bill 314).