EU Budget (Surcharge) Debate

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Department: HM Treasury
Monday 10th November 2014

(9 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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We will never face such a large payment or such an unexpected period of time in which to pay, which is why we are getting permanent changes to the budget rules. That requires the consent of all member states, and we have that.

Tom Blenkinsop Portrait Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Lab)
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The UK’s deficit at the moment is the worst in the European Union. Will the Chancellor be selling that as a result as well?

George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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Some of us remember inheriting a budget deficit of 11.5% from the previous Labour Government. It has fallen by more than a third. We will get the forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility in December.