Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Sheila Gilmore Excerpts
Tuesday 6th November 2012

(12 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Sajid Javid)
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My hon. Friend is right to point out that pensioners are facing pressure because of low interest rates and longevity. The Government Actuary’s Department makes recommendations to the Government and we must take them seriously—we keep the matter constantly under review.

Sheila Gilmore Portrait Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab)
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The Government make a great deal of creating 1 million private sector jobs—[Hon. Members: “Hear, hear!”] Wait, wait. Half of those jobs, according to their statements, were in place after eight months of their coming to office, meaning that in the following 22 months only another half a million jobs were created. That suggests that the rate of growth has slowed substantially as a result of the Chancellor’s policies.

Danny Alexander Portrait Danny Alexander
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Once again, Labour Members are on the search for bad news, but the hon. Lady has picked the wrong subject. More than 1 million private sector jobs have been created since the election. The most recent figures show that tens of thousands more jobs have been created in the private sector and the largest ever number of people in employment in this country. That should be welcomed by everyone in the House, including her.