Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Kane Excerpts
Tuesday 1st March 2016

(8 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the big investment that is being made in our nation’s infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure. We have the biggest rail programme since the Victorian age and the biggest road programme since the 1970s, which the hon. Lady is seeing in the improvements to the A27 and M27 in her area. Of course, an economic policy that destroys all confidence in the British economy would mean no investment.

Mike Kane Portrait Mike Kane (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab)
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T2. The OECD has estimated that tax havens are costing developing countries three times the global aid budget. Does the Chancellor share my frustration over the fact that the UK overseas territories have ignored the pleas of the Prime Minister, and have not introduced beneficial ownership registers? What more can be done to end the secrecy and inaction?

David Gauke Portrait The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)
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The United Kingdom is leading the way in respect of a public register of beneficial ownership, but other countries, including the overseas territories, are not committed to that. We continue to engage with them, because we believe that they should follow the same direction as us—as, indeed, should other countries.