Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Owen Thompson and Simon Clarke

Tuesday 15th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Simon Clarke)]

My hon. Friend has made an excellent point. He is right to champion the value of apprenticeships, in which the Government keenly believe. I had a great roundtable with apprentices in Newcastle recently, and heard for myself just what a difference they are making both to their employer and to the wider economy.

[Owen Thompson (Midlothian) (SNP)]

It is estimated that the Chancellor’s smash and grab on national insurance will raise £13 billion. By happy coincidence, at the end of the financial year the Chancellor will have an extra £13 billion-worth of borrowing, because the Government have not met the borrowing expectations. Will the Chancellor use that happy coincidence to scrap the tax on jobs?