Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Wright Excerpts

Tuesday 29th April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. This is a Government who are determined to ensure that the recovery is broad based, not just in terms of sectors, but across the country. His experience demonstrates that we are making progress on that.

[Simon Wright (Norwich South) (LD)]

10. What steps he has taken to reduce the cost of living for people on low incomes.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Danny Alexander)]

The coalition Government have taken decisive action to support families on low incomes. Increasing the personal allowance, for example, will take 3.2 million individuals out of income tax altogether by 2015-16. We have helped to freeze the council tax, frozen fuel duty and reduced energy bills, providing universal free school meals for infant schools and introducing tax-free child care support of up to £2,000, all on top of the most important thing, which is an economic plan that is delivering strong and sustained growth for this country.

[Simon Wright]

This month more than 3 million low-paid people have been taken out of paying income tax altogether since 2010, as a result of delivering the Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment of a £10,000 tax threshold. Can my right hon. Friend say how the impact of this policy on low-income workers compares with the previous Government’s policy of abolishing the 10p tax rate?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Osborne]

The last study on the impact of zero-hours contracts was undertaken by the previous Labour Government, who concluded that they wanted to retain the flexibility that such contracts offer to business. However, we are not satisfied that all the work has been done on this, which is why the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is consulting on what changes potentially need to be made to zero-hours contracts. We have received a lot of representations, we are looking through them and of course we will come forward with a response shortly.

[Simon Wright (Norwich South) (LD)]

T9. Within a few months, Norwich will no longer be the UK’s largest city not to be connected to the dual carriageway network. Can the Chancellor confirm that the excellent progress of the coalition’s A11 dualling scheme in Norfolk is meeting Treasury expectations, and will he keep this in mind when considering destinations for further infrastructure investment?