Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Neil Carmichael Excerpts
Tuesday 27th October 2015

(9 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Harriett Baldwin Portrait Harriett Baldwin
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The Government are delighted that the UK recently, once again, topped the poll as the No. 1 location for a global financial centre. We believe that our legal system, language, geographical location and brilliant skilled workforce, and many other factors, contribute to this being an excellent place to locate a global financial services firm.

Neil Carmichael Portrait Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)
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12. What steps he is taking to tackle the productivity gap.

Damian Hinds Portrait The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Damian Hinds)
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the importance of increased productivity, which, along with growing employment, will drive growth, raise living standards and ensure a better quality of life for our citizens. Our productivity plan set out a range of reforms designed to make sure that the UK remains a dynamic, open and enterprising economy, supported by long-term public and private investment in infrastructure, skills and science.

Neil Carmichael Portrait Neil Carmichael
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Does the Minister agree that the recent report by the Governor of the Bank of England highlighting Britain’s membership of the European Union in positive and authoritative terms suggests that if we make sure that we do get productivity right and do protect our financial services, the prospects for our economy will be very good, both dynamically and in terms of growth?

Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has noted, the best outcome for the UK economy is that we achieve major economic reform of the EU. We want the UK to play a leading role in creating a dynamic, competitive and outward-focused Europe, delivering prosperity and security for every country in the EU, particularly by accelerating the integration of the single market.