Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Kirby Excerpts

Tuesday 11th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Osborne]

The short answer is yes, we are. It is not about legislation; it is about delivering the money. [Interruption.] Labour Members say “Ah”, but we can legislate as much as we like; the question is whether we are prepared to take the difficult decisions to deliver the money. [Interruption.] They say they do not trust us, but this is the Government who will deliver the 0.7% aid commitment that all parties signed up to.

[Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (Con)]

T9. As the TUC meets in sunny Brighton, what message does my right hon. Friend think an irresponsible strike will send to the millions of hard-working people who are worried about our economic recovery?

[Mr Osborne]

I think it sends a terrible message to my hon. Friend’s constituents in Brighton and across the country. The last thing this country needs at the moment is a series of strikes. We have struck a good deal for the public sector on public sector pensions that will ensure that people continue to enjoy some of the best pensions in Britain, while at the same time reducing the cost to the taxpayer by 50% over the long term. We are also instituting public sector pay restraint so we do not have to make even more difficult decisions about job losses. That is because we are dealing with a very difficult economic situation with a very large deficit. I would hope that the trade unions would understand that rather than try to take their members out on strike.

Autumn Statement

Simon Kirby Excerpts

Tuesday 29th November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Osborne]

As I said, the future jobs fund meant that 50% of people who went on it were unemployed within 12 weeks. The right hon. Member for South Shields (David Miliband) was very honest in saying that this Government did not create the problem of youth unemployment. Frankly, if we had more honesty from the shadow Chancellor, he would have a bit more economic credibility. I cannot help noticing that the British public think that the right hon. Member for South Shields would do a better job as shadow Chancellor than the man opposite jabbering at me.

[Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (Con)]

With the UK 10-year market interest rates at record lows, does the Chancellor agree that the rest of the world seems to support his plan, not the Labour party’s?

[Mr Osborne]

The short answer to that is yes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Kirby Excerpts

Tuesday 12th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (Con)]

13. What recent representations he has received on the time taken by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to provide VAT numbers to new small businesses.

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)]

Treasury Ministers receive representations on a range of subjects from organisations and individuals about aspects of service delivery.

[Simon Kirby]

I thank the Minister. A number of businesses in Brighton have waited a very long time to receive their VAT numbers. Does the Minister agree that the prevention of fraud is as important as providing a prompt service?

[Mr Gauke]

My hon. Friend is right. There is a need to balance the desire for a quick service with ensuring that we do not allow fraudulent registrations. Between April and September this year, 57.4% of applications were processed within the target 10 calendar days. There was an improvement in the rate during August and September, when 71.4% and 79.7% of applications were processed within the 10 days.

Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Kirby Excerpts

Tuesday 8th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

Staff in HMRC have been reduced for many years, from 97,000 to 69,000. Any Government will want to ensure that HMRC’s resources are deployed as effectively and efficiently as possible, and we will certainly seek to do so.

[Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (Con)]

17. What his policy is on taxation of the bingo industry; and if he will make a statement.

[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Justine Greening)]

We keep all taxes under review. It would not be appropriate to discuss taxation in relation to bingo before the Budget in a couple of weeks, but we are keen to have a dialogue with the industry.

[Simon Kirby]

Does the Minister agree that sometimes it is possible to increase revenue by reducing taxes?

[Justine Greening]

I think that my hon. Friend is probably referring to the well-known Laffer curve. I am sure that he is aware, too, that the tax on bingo participation clubs was reduced in the last Budget from 22% to 20%. As I said, I look forward to talking to the industry over the coming months.