Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Thérèse Coffey and David Gauke

Tuesday 11th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con)]

T7. A few weeks ago, I joined my hon. Friends the Members for Harlow (Robert Halfon), for Northampton South (Mr Binley) and for Waveney (Peter Aldous) in presenting to the Chancellor a Boost Bingo petition with over 300,000 signatures, calling for a cut in bingo duty. [Hon. Members: “House!”] Will the Minister give to those who, day in, day out, enjoy bingo—including those who like to shout “House!”—comfort from this House that their concerns are being addressed in the forthcoming Budget?

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

At this point in the year, all I can say to my hon. Friend is, “Let me take that as a further Budget submission.”

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Thérèse Coffey and David Gauke

Tuesday 10th December 2013 Commons Chamber

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

Last week the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast public sector net borrowing on an underlying basis to be £111 billion, or 7.3 per cent. of GDP in 2013-14, down from 11 per cent. of GDP in 2009-10, the highest deficit in our peacetime history. By 2018-19 the OBR forecasts that the UK will be running a small surplus.

[Dr Coffey]

I thank my hon. Friend for that terrific answer. Does he agree that calls to abandon the Government’s long-term economic plan and to borrow and spend more would mean higher taxes and mortgage rates going up for hard-working families in Suffolk Coastal?

[Mr Gauke]

I thank my hon. Friend for her terrific question. Yes, I agree.

Office of Tax Simplification

Debate between Thérèse Coffey and David Gauke

Tuesday 20th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

My hon. Friend is right to raise that point. Of the two reports that the office will produce initially, one will focus on taxation for small businesses and the problems with IR35. We believe that this organisation will be able to address that difficult issue, which frankly has not been dealt with satisfactorily in recent years.

[Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con)]

I welcome the response to the urgent question today. As a former finance director, I will join many others in celebrating this simplification agenda, so that instead of spending time thinking about tax they can think about business growth. In particular, can my hon. Friend assure me that the office will also cover the subject of VAT which is as complex as corporation tax and others?

[Mr Gauke]

The OTS can look at all taxes. We will agree other subjects for consideration in the future, and I am sure that my hon. Friend is right to highlight that matter.