Debates between Nick Thomas-Symonds and John Penrose during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Thu 11th Feb 2016

Short Money and Policy Development Grant

Debate between Nick Thomas-Symonds and John Penrose
Thursday 11th February 2016

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Penrose Portrait John Penrose
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We are all anxious to crack on with this as soon as we can, and we would like to start the consultation shortly. Given the level of interest that has been made evident during this urgent question, I am sure that we would be criticised further if we were to delay the consultation. I would like to get on with it soon, if we can, and to allow plenty of time for people to respond over a period of weeks. I am sure that the Select Committee’s Chairman, my hon. Friend the Member for Harwich and North Essex (Mr Jenkin), will understand that timetable and that he will time his Committee’s investigations appropriately.

Nick Thomas-Symonds Portrait Nick Thomas-Symonds (Torfaen) (Lab)
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer has increased the pay of one of his special advisers by as much as 42%. How on earth can it be justified for the Chancellor to lecture the rest of us on tightening our belts when that does not seem to apply to him?

John Penrose Portrait John Penrose
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As I mentioned before, the total cost of Spads since the general election has started to fall.