Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Phillips Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

We are sticking to the spending plans that we set out in the spending review, and that is the right thing to do. Of course I understand that inflation has an effect on people’s living standards, which is why it is particularly important to emphasise the increase in the personal income tax threshold—£1,000 extra on the threshold—that comes into force this April, which will put £200 back into the pockets of hard-working people in this country. That is the action this Government are taking to help people through these difficult times.

[Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

10. By what date he expects revenue to the Exchequer to match levels of public expenditure.

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Mark Hoban)]

Excluding capital expenditure, the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts revenue to exceed current expenditure by 2015-16. This is further evidence that this Government believe that the country should live within its means.

[Stephen Phillips]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer. The shadow Chancellor was reported as saying in Saturday’s The Daily Telegraph:

“The idea that Labour profligacy caused the crisis is utter tosh.”

Does my hon. Friend agree that the only tosh to be seen in that statement is the suggestion that Labour had not created the mess we are in? Is it not the case, as the CBI has said, that the previous Government’s target of balancing the budget by 2018 was set too far off to—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We are asking about current policy, and some of these questions are simply—[Interruption.] Order. We have got the gist.