Oral Answers to Questions

Sharon Hodgson Excerpts

Wednesday 27th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

This is the news that the Opposition do not want to hear. Four fifths of that growth was coming from the private sector, and that is an encouraging sign that we should celebrate rather than look miserable about.

[Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland West) (Lab)]

The Prime Minister talks of difficult decisions, and last week the Chancellor said that government is about choices. The Opposition agree, but we would have made different choices—

[Hon. Members]

What?

[Mr Speaker]

Order.

[Mrs Hodgson]

For instance, we would have chosen to tax the bankers more heavily in order to avoid the shameful attack yesterday on women and children in the form of the abolition of the child trust fund and the health in pregnancy grant. Does the Prime Minister agree with his Chancellor’s choices continually to penalise women and children in that way?

Please, Mr Speaker—

[Hon. Members]

Speech!

[Mr Speaker]

Order.

[Mrs Hodgson]

Please, Mr Speaker, will you ask the Prime Minister not continually to blame the Opposition? He is in government now—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am grateful. I call the Prime Minister to reply.