Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 1st November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The question refers to a reduction in tax avoidance and evasion.

[Mr Osborne]

Tackling tax evasion and avoidance—to which the question refers—will help us to reduce both the deficit and the debt. We have the fiscal mandate and the debt target. That has been independently verified by the Office for Budget Responsibility—which is in marked contrast to the situation when the right hon. Gentleman was in the Cabinet—and on 29 November it will provide its update.

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[Fiona Mactaggart]

But with both women’s unemployment and the retail prices index at a higher level than at any time since the Chancellor left university—which was probably when the hon. Lady left primary school— [Interruption.] I do not—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. All this noise slows down progress. Let’s get on.

[Fiona Mactaggart]

I was welcoming a young woman to the Front Bench, and I am glad to see young people representing people in this Parliament, but I do think it is shocking that we currently have the highest level of unemployment in more than 20 years—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I just say to the hon. Lady that what I want is a question with a question mark.

[Fiona Mactaggart]

Is it not time that this Government delivered for women on employment, and may I suggest that support for women entrepreneurs and delivering promises that they made before the election for 3,000 more midwives and 4,000 extra—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We have got the point.

[Miss Smith]

I have a number of things to say to the hon. Lady, none of which would include any personal questions, of course.

I can assure the hon. Lady that the Government are reducing the deficit fairly, and I would point out in particular that we are taking 1.1 million of the lowest-paid workers out of tax entirely, and the majority of them are women. She will welcome that as much as I do. Furthermore, she should know that unemployment rose to its level of 30% under her party’s Government.[Official Report, 3 November 2011, Vol. 534, c. 6MC.]

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[Danny Alexander]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the enormous potential of this sector, and I congratulate him on his work and the close interest he has taken in this subject. The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury would be very happy to meet both him and representatives of the Social Finance investment bank.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Kelvin Hopkins.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

Next question.

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[Jesse Norman]

I thank my hon. Friend for that response. This country continues to bear a huge burden of private finance initiative debt. The Government have made important progress in improving the cost and operation of PFI over the past 18 months. Does he share my view, and that of many of my colleagues, that more can be done to secure a fair deal on PFI, while securing investment in our infrastructure?

[Mr Speaker]

It would help if the Chair could actually hear the question being asked.

[Mr Gauke]

My hon. Friend has campaigned tirelessly on this matter. As he knows, the Government have improved the assurance and approval arrangements for PFI, and the transparency. We are seeking to obtain £1.5 billion of savings on existing stock of PFI contracts, and we will of course continue to work hard to improve the situation.

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[Mr Hoban]

My hon. Friend asks a very good question. It is a sad indictment of the state of today’s Labour party that it voted against the increase in the IMF subscription negotiated by the—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The Minister has said enough, and he has said it about another party’s policy. We need to move on.

[Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)]

Is it not accepted now by the international community that the announcement by the Chancellor a year ago that he would cut half a million public sector jobs led directly to a reduction in consumer demand, and that it has reduced private sector investment and growth and led to an increase in deficit predictions?

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[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. As usual, this event is heavily oversubscribed. I am sorry to disappoint colleagues, but we must now move on.