Oral Answers to Questions

Matt Warman Excerpts

Tuesday 28th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

The hon. Lady is only repeating what I have already acknowledged. Many very small businesses will see big increases because they are coming out of small business rates relief and facing the full rates regime for the first time. We understand the stress that they will experience at that point, and we will be considering how best to deal with those that are worst affected by the phenomenon.

[Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness) (Con)]

7. What fiscal steps he is taking to support the development of digital infrastructure.

[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Simon Kirby)]

The Government are taking action to give the United Kingdom the world-leading infrastructure that it needs. The Government-led £1.7 billion superfast broadband programme will extend coverage to 95% of UK premises by the end of 2017.

[Matt Warman]

From artificial intelligence to mechanisation, we live in a period of unprecedented technological change, and the Government should foster it in rural and urban areas. Can the Economic Secretary confirm that he will resist the calls of a new generation of Luddites for robots to be taxed?

[Simon Kirby]

I was going to make a joke about the Liberal Democrats, but as there are none in the Chamber I will merely reassure my hon. Friend that the Government have no current plans to introduce a robot tax.