Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Paula Sherriff Excerpts
Tuesday 21st July 2015

(8 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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There will be another interesting question for this House when we vote on the new fiscal rules. Two weeks ago the shadow Chancellor said that he supported a surplus, yet he has objected to every single welfare change that is being introduced in this House, and he refused to support our legislation last night. We shall see what he says about the spending review in the next few hours, but we cannot will the ends if we do not will the means, and that means difficult choices to ensure that our country lives within its means.

Paula Sherriff Portrait Paula Sherriff (Dewsbury) (Lab)
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This Chancellor has missed every one of his own deficit reduction targets, and borrowed more than any other Chancellor in history. Will he confirm that, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast, the fiscal changes in the summer Budget mean £26.8 billion more public borrowing in the next two financial years, and that since 2010 he will have borrowed a full £200 billion more than he planned?

George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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I think that is exactly the same question that was read out about half an hour ago—I am not sure that it says much for improved productivity on the Labour Benches.