Loans to Ireland Bill

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and Nigel Evans

Wednesday 15th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

A quick question to the Chancellor, that is.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

No interventions on an intervention, please.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

Are we the only lender that is lending in a currency other than the euro?

Equitable Life (Payments) Bill

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and Nigel Evans

Wednesday 10th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

rose—

[The First Deputy Chairman]

Order. Before the hon. Gentleman responds to that intervention, may I remind Members that interventions should be short and that this is not a Second or Third Reading debate? We are speaking to the amendments that are before us and if we focus on them, we will make quicker progress.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. However, having listed that extraordinary chronology of debacles, it is clear that there could be a problem if we left things open and said, “We might be able to revisit them at some other stage.” We would be opening up other doors, and that may cause further delay. I come from a world of business rather than of politics and I believe that, if we try to put a line under a terrible situation and compensate people, we should do it quickly and completely.

Mr Evans, I take on board your remarks. All I will say is that the Minister should be applauded. There will be no means-testing and the dependants of the deceased policyholders should be included in any compensation. I have had a number of heartrending letters in which relatives have written, saying, “It is too late for us because our loved ones have passed away.”

I understand the passion that the hon. Member for Leeds North East has shown through amendment 1. The problem with the amendment was outlined by my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff North (Jonathan Evans), who said that it was very difficult to put a quantum on what that number should be. In the current economic climate, I would find it hard to support it if we said, “Oh well, maybe it is £100 million extra from reserves; maybe it’s £100 million that we can bring in from future years.” None the less, the hon. Gentleman made a strong point about the annuitants from 1991 going forward, and I hope that the Minister was listening carefully.

Jobs and the Unemployed

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and Nigel Evans

Wednesday 7th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I have to come back on that point. Your policies have mortgaged and remortgaged the future of those young children, so for you to stand up and say that without borrowing you cannot sustain the recovery is inaccurate. You have to admit that borrowing £500 million a day—not a week or a month—is unsustainable.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

Order. May I remind Members to use the third person? When Members refer to “you”, it means me. I have just been accused of a few things that I do not own up to.

--- Later in debate ---

[Nadhim Zahawi]

And your point is? At the end of the day, you only have to look at the facts. The facts are that you have left us with a legacy of £500 million a day—

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

Order. I did not leave anybody with a legacy of anything.