Autumn Statement

Roberta Blackman-Woods Excerpts

Thursday 5th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Osborne]

My hon. Friend puts it very well. We have great obligations to the current generation, but we also have obligations to the next generations. Saddling them with debts or with an uncompetitive economy or one where jobs are not being created is a complete dereliction of our duty to the next generation. Thankfully, with the help, support and advice of my hon. Friend, we are now turning that situation round, dealing with the debts and making sure our businesses grow. Because of my hon. Friend’s forceful campaign, we are also helping many shops in his Wolverhampton constituency.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

Is not the point about the community infrastructure levy that it is there to pay for the infrastructure that communities need? Will the Chancellor tell us how much of it he intends to give away to individual households, and how he proposes to make up the resulting shortfall in funding for local infrastructure?

[Mr Osborne]

I do not have the specific answer with me, so I will write to the hon. Lady.