Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Danczuk Excerpts

Tuesday 25th June 2013 Commons Chamber

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked—

[Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab)]

1. What recent assessment he has made of the effect on economic growth of the level of bank lending to businesses.

[Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab)]

11. What recent assessment he has made of the effect on economic growth of the level of bank lending to businesses.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr George Osborne)]

The Government are committed to creating a banking system that supports the British economy, rather than being supported by it. Two months ago, the Government and the Bank of England extended the funding for lending scheme, with a particular focus on small business lending. Last week, the Office of Fair Trading announced its review into how to make that lending more competitive, and at the Mansion House, I announced a plan for taxpayer shareholdings in RBS and Lloyds that will return these banks fully to the private sector, get value for the taxpayer and support the economy.

[Simon Danczuk]

Last Monday, I met businesses at Greater Manchester chamber of commerce and heard how banks were often failing them, thereby having an adverse impact on business performance. Does the Chancellor accept that bank lending to businesses has fallen over the past year and that the Government’s funding for lending scheme has totally failed businesses in Greater Manchester and the United Kingdom?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Gauke]

There is a substantial saving to the Exchequer through child benefit. It was not that long ago when the Leader of the Opposition said that millionaires should receive child benefit because

“it’s a cornerstone of our system to have universal benefits”.

It appears that that is no longer the case, although all we have is briefing. On winter fuel payments, the Prime Minister made it clear that they would continue in the course of this Parliament and we will fulfil that commitment.

[Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr George Osborne)]

The core purpose of the Treasury is to ensure the stability and prosperity of the economy.

[Simon Danczuk]

In his March Budget, the Chancellor boasted that Government borrowing fell last year. Will he confirm that figures published by the Office for National Statistics on Friday show that Government borrowing last year actually did not go down, but went up?

[Mr Osborne]

The Office for National Statistics revised down borrowing for 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2013-14; that is actually good news.