Autumn Statement Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Autumn Statement

Richard Drax Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd November 2016

(8 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Hammond of Runnymede Portrait Mr Hammond
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As I tried to make abundantly clear, I am intending to move away from a micromanagement approach to the budgets of my right hon. Friends, who are perfectly capable of evaluating the arguments, making the decisions and announcing them themselves, and that is what will happen in future. What I will say to the hon. Lady is that I did have the pleasure of meeting Julie, who explained to me the very considerable efforts that have been made so far, and I am delighted that we have been able to support that project.

Richard Drax Portrait Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)
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I warmly welcome the announcement by my right hon. Friend of increased infrastructure spending, but I would be failing in my duty if I did not plug the rail connection—not least at Yeovil junction—that will take faster trains to my constituency, where roads are at a premium and we cannot, because we have beautiful countryside, have more tarmac. Can I just tell him that we shall be coming to seek his help with that?

Lord Hammond of Runnymede Portrait Mr Hammond
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To be consistent, I would have to direct my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Transport Secretary, who, I am sure, will be delighted to hear his representation.