Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 11th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

It is striking how little the Scottish National party appears to have learned from what has happened in the eurozone. The truth is that when setting up a new country, the last thing anyone wants to do is to abandon all the levers that control the economy. The first few decades of independence would be a risky, dangerous and uncertain phase, and embarking on it without the ability to control interest rates or an exchange rate that can, for example, adjust to oil price fluctuations, and with your hands bound on tax and spending—one of the lessons of the eurozone crisis—is an utterly ridiculous proposition.

[Mr Speaker]

Question 3, Andrew Selous.

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

Employment in the United Kingdom is increasing—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I know that the Chief Secretary is an important man with many important matters on his mind, but none is more important than the grouping of questions 3 and 11. Am I right?

[Danny Alexander]

You are right, Mr Speaker, and I beg your pardon.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Sajid Javid)]

The Government are protecting the incomes of low-income households by freezing fuel duty and taking 2.7 million people out of tax by increasing their personal allowance. The best way to raise—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I think that the Minister is a tad confused. We are on Question 6, which is about membership of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England.

[Sajid Javid]

I beg your pardon, Mr Speaker.

The Monetary Policy Committee consists of the individuals who are best qualified to make the decisions necessary to achieve the Government’s monetary policy objectives: the Governor of the Bank of England, the two deputy governors, two members of the Bank with responsibility for monetary policy and market operations, and four external members who are appointed by the Chancellor. All appointments are made on merit.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am sorry to disappoint colleagues. There are some appetites that remain unsatisfied, but such is the nature, I fear, of Treasury questions in particular.

We come now to the 10-minute rule motion and when Members have filed out of the Chamber in a seemly way, the hon. Member for Heywood and Middleton (Jim Dobbin) can enjoy the rapt attention of the House.