Budget Changes Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Budget Changes

Shabana Mahmood Excerpts
Monday 21st March 2016

(8 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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My hon. Friend is right to highlight that measure, which was announced last week. This Government are taking the issues of homelessness seriously and an important set of policies was announced last week.

Shabana Mahmood Portrait Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood) (Lab)
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Given that the Chancellor has been warning us all about the so-called global cocktail of risks, and given that we learned from the Budget statement that our growth forecasts are down, as are those for our productivity, which is fast reaching crisis point, what possible justification can the Minister offer, considering all the other changes that have already been made to the Budget, for retaining the substantial cut to capital gains tax, which disproportionately benefits the better off and is simply a cut that, at this point, we do not need?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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One of the important challenges that we face is improving productivity in this country. If we want to improve productivity, we want more investment. If we want more investment, we do not want high rates of tax that discourage investment. May I point out that in terms of capital gains tax, the rate is still higher than the one we inherited in 2010?