Topical Questions

Question

With Orbital O2 in Orkney and MeyGen—the largest tidal stream site in the world—Scotland leads the way in tidal stream generation. That industry is at a stage where it needs to expand and scale up, but to do so, it needs a bigger ringfenced budget. In the renewables auction announced last week, the Government propose to halve the budget for tidal stream instead of increasing it. Will the Chancellor meet me to discuss the impact and the opportunities for business?

Question

Delaying the lower Thames crossing will have a detrimental impact on Dartford's economy and on its traffic problems, so does the Chancellor of the Exchequer agree that the completion of the lower Thames crossing is vital if we are to promote economic growth, not just in Dartford but throughout the south-east of the country?

Question

Confidence has been shaken by the recent bank failures and stock market falls across the world. Is the Chancellor confident that our ringfencing regime is adequate to protect taxpayers and depositors, when we have seen how fast these problems can spread? Can the Chancellor reassure the House that there are no other UK banks or subsidiaries that are vulnerable, and in light of recent developments, is he confident about the Financial Stability Board, or does it need to widen the number of banks regarded as systemically important?

Question

I thank the Chancellor for that response, and am pleased that he continues to monitor the situation carefully, but the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank UK shows how our vibrant start-up sector—particularly in life sciences and tech—had become reliant on a single financial institution. The impact of these bank failures may be that other banks become more risk averse, restricting lending and raising interest rates, resulting in a credit squeeze, possibly even beyond the start-up sector. That would damage an already weak economy, so how will the Chancellor monitor the situation there and ensure that businesses have access to the long-term capital that they need to grow and to thrive?

Question

For quite some time, GPs and consultants in Birmingham have expressed their frustration and concern with the pension lifetime allowance cap. I welcome the measures in the Budget last week to abolish it altogether, which will mean that we will see more GPs and consultants practising. Does my hon. Friend agree that it will also mean we will see more teachers and headteachers in the classroom and more police officers on the beat?

Question

The Resolution Foundation recently found that if wage growth had continued on the same trajectory as pre-2008, the average UK worker would be £11,000 a year better off. Does the Minister accept that hard-working households can no longer afford to lose £11,000 a year as a result of this Government's perpetual mismanagement of the economy?

Question

I warmly welcome the Chancellor's big decision to invest in childcare and the early years in this Budget. One witness to the Education Committee—a long-standing campaigner on these issues—said they were elated to see the commitment the Chancellor made. Going forward, may I encourage him to continue to listen to the concerns of the independent and voluntary sector, which is crucial to the success of reforms in this space? I know he is a fan of workforce plans, so may I encourage him to consider the case for an early years workforce plan?

Question

When the Chancellor chaired the Health and Social Care Committee, the BMA told him that pension reforms just for doctors would be a fraction of the cost of what he announced in the Budget. Can he tell us precisely how many doctors the Treasury estimates will stay in work due to this untargeted tax giveaway for the top 1%?

Question

On behalf of all residents, I thank the Chancellor for the £12 million allocated to Dinnington. Can he look favourably on future applications for Maltby, Thurcroft and Swallownest so that they too can receive funding?

Question

At the same time as tax cuts for high earners, are the Tories considering delaying state pensions? Will the Chancellor rule out such a change?

Question

Given that the Chancellor has protected the hospitals budget, can I urge the announcement of decisions regarding the RAAC-ravaged Queen Elizabeth Hospital as soon as possible?

Question

Given that the IFS has criticised the Chancellor's Budget, is it not a pretty damning verdict?

Question

Can the Chancellor give an assurance on actions to ensure credit flows to SMEs, rural businesses, and startups?

Question

Given the OBR's analysis of last week's Budget and the Patriotic Millionaires UK survey, will the Chancellor look at introducing wealth taxes?

Question

Will the Chancellor tweak the childcare initiative to enable one parent to care for children full-time?

Question

Why did the Chancellor not take steps to abolish the non-dom regime despite researchers estimating it denies about £3.2 billion per year?

Question

I am concerned about the criticism of the UK as the sick man of Europe despite the fastest-growing economy in G7. Given the tech sector's growth in South Cambridgeshire, is there reason to be confident about the future?

Question

My constituent Fiona Cooper is facing issues with closing NI contributions gaps near retirement. She needs validation of her HMRC advice by the Department for Work and Pensions, which complicates matters. Does the Chancellor see this as a problem?

Question

Given the successful relaxation of pension rules for doctors, will the Chancellor consider taking a similar approach to tackle retention issues across other health service professions?

Question

Given that industry stakeholders seek long-term solutions, what steps will Ministers take to address rising household energy costs over time?

Question

With the quick thinking by the Chancellor and Prime Minister, the tech sector's future looks bright. Can my right hon. Friend confirm his ongoing ambition for this sector, especially regarding HSBC's merger?