Thursday 15th December 2022

(1 year, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Penny Mordaunt Portrait Penny Mordaunt
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I wish the hon. Gentleman good luck with his bids, which sound very exciting. I remind him that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will be the first to face questions when the House returns after the Christmas recess. I hope he is in attendance.

Patricia Gibson Portrait Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)
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Richard Hughes, the chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility, has said that

“a series of dramatic swings in policy with five major fiscal statements delivered by three consecutive governments”

has cost taxpayers more than £40 billion in extra debt in just six months. That is £600 for every man, woman and child in the UK. Will the Leader of the House make a statement setting out why she believes it is acceptable for taxpayers to pay the price for Westminster’s economic incompetence?

Penny Mordaunt Portrait Penny Mordaunt
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We are facing very difficult times across the country and we are coming out of a pandemic where we have had unprecedented demand on the public purse. I notice that the Scottish Government will outline their Budget today, and I look forward to Audit Scotland’s commentary, when it is produced.