Topical Questions

Answer from Rachel Reeves

This Government have the right economic plan—the fastest growth in the G7 at the start of this year, the second fastest rate of growth in the G7 since the election, and inflation lower than forecast, with food inflation at its lowest level for 17 months despite the disruption in the middle east. Wages have risen faster than prices in every single month since I became Chancellor. I am tackling the cost of living challenges with rail fares, prescription charges and fuel duty frozen, and with money off energy bills. Our economic plan is the right one, and I will continue to deliver for the British people.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

I thank my hon. Friend for that question and for the representation that he and other MPs representing ceramics constituencies have made. It was a real honour for me to meet the impressive force of nature that is Sharon Yates when I visited Dunoon, a ceramics business in Staffordshire, a couple of months ago. I pay tribute to her and the campaigning trade union, GMB, Ceramics UK and all campaigning Labour MPs on their efforts. As a result, they have been heard, and our £120 million package of support for ceramics announced earlier this year will give a positive future for the sector.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

Let's talk about my record: six cuts in interest rates; wages rising faster than inflation; trade deals secured; investment delivered; support for our energy-intensive industries; half a million children lifted out of poverty; record investment in our national health service; more money for local transport infrastructure right around the country; the biggest uplift in defence spending since the end of the cold war; and an economy that has constantly beaten the forecasts—an economy that is growing, and an economy where inflation has come down. Compared with the disastrous 14 years when the Conservatives were in office, I would take our record any day.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

When the Conservatives were in office, in the last Parliament they borrowed more than the G7 average every single year. This year we are borrowing less than the G7 average and have brought down Government borrowing to 4.2% of GDP in the most recent data. We have brought forward our fiscal rules so that they kick in two years earlier, and we are meeting those fiscal rules, to ensure that we have sustainable public finances—a far cry from those that I inherited.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

I thank my hon. Friend for the representation that he makes on behalf of the ceramics industry in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The £120 million funding will be launched in the autumn. We are working with the sector now, and it will be available for firms of all sizes, because it is important that small ceramics manufacturers can benefit, as well as larger ones.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

With all respect, the Liberal Democrats backed that referendum 10 years ago, and they were part of the Government who legislated for it. Unlike the Liberal Democrats, the Labour party actually sticks to its manifesto commitments.

Answer from Dan Tomlinson

I thank my hon. Friend for his strong representation on behalf of his constituency and the important refining industry. I have seen the letter to the Chancellor that has been sent by colleagues and I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend and other interested Members.

Answer from Dan Tomlinson

I regret to inform the hon. Gentleman that that policy was implemented by his Government—it started under his Government. However, I recognise the challenges that these rules are causing, so today I confirm that the Government will soon bring forward a new approach, consisting of either changes to the VAT rules or a reimbursement scheme.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

I have not only visited my hon. Friend's constituency, but I went to school there and I am well aware of many of the pubs in Beckenham and Penge. This summer, from this Thursday, the great British summer savings programme will benefit businesses in Beckenham and Penge and around the country.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

In the first quarter of this year we were the fastest growing economy in the G7. Since I became Chancellor, we have had growth of 2.3%, which is the second fastest rate of growth in the G7. We are growing our economy by bringing investment and stability back to the UK, and businesses are following our lead by investing in our country.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

When we were in opposition, I promised the biggest wave of insourcing in a generation, and we are now working in government to deliver exactly that. The Government Property Agency contract that expires in 2028 will come back in house, so people working at around 40 locations across government in London and around the country will find that instead of being employed by an outsourcing company, they will be employed directly by the Government.

Answer from Dan Tomlinson

I would of course meet the hon. Member.

Answer from Lucy Rigby

The Pride in Place programme provides £5.8 billion of support to 284 neighbourhoods right across the country, including five places in my hon. Friend's constituency, which she does so much to advocate for. We will set out more details of further funding in the Budget.

Answer from Dan Tomlinson

I thank the hon. Member for the representations she makes on behalf of the businesses in her constituency. This Government are taking every step we can—within the tight fiscal constraints that we inherited from the previous Government—to reform, and invest in, our business rates system so that we can raise revenue in a fair and sustainable way.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

Today the Government have responded to the covid counter-fraud commissioner's recommendations in a report that I commissioned, which confirms that the Conservative Government left the door open to more than £10 billion of pandemic fraud. That is money that could have gone into our NHS and our schools, and we have acted in the last two years to claw it back.