Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Rachel Reeves Excerpts
Tuesday 29th November 2016

(7 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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My hon. Friend highlights the fact that digital must be key to improving productivity. That is why a £1 billion package was announced in the autumn statement. There was also specific help for rural areas through rural rates relief. Our ambition is clear: to provide the best digital infrastructure we can for urban and rural areas.

Rachel Reeves Portrait Rachel Reeves (Leeds West) (Lab)
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In table 4.21 of the report Office for Budget Responsibility’s it forecast that the Government will underspend on infrastructure by £15 billion in the next five years—two thirds of the additional money announced by the Chancellor last week. Why should the public have any confidence in the ability of the Government to deliver on their promises when their own watchdog clearly does not?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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The OBR has always taken a cautious view on delivery of infrastructure, but let us remember that we have already delivered 3,000 projects. We have set out an ambitious plan for delivery of infrastructure improvements in the course of this Parliament, and that is exactly what we will deliver.