Commons Chamber

Tuesday 3rd November 2026

(began 19 hours, 6 minutes ago)

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11:34
None Portrait Q1. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on funding for the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. (901852)
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Order, Order, order. Order, order. We Order, order. We start Order, order. We start with questions. The Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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John Healey Portrait Rt Hon John Healey MP, The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, Labour)
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asked, we have those people and the families who are have delays in getting the money through. I know in Northern Ireland we. We've seen in Northern Ireland we. We've seen their families who are. The years catch up, their health, catch us up and they pass away. So I want to and they pass away. So I want to ensure that in the lifetime that they have in this world, the short term, and some of them have left that the money that they're due actually get there. So can I ask the Minister this question, please? What has been done to ensure that What has been done to ensure that those who are still waiting for compensation can actually get that

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as a matter of urgency? Well, Mr. Speaker, the IBC is

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Well, Mr. Speaker, the IBC is following the inquiry's recommendations about the priority for payments. It's prioritising for payments. It's prioritising claims from individuals who are sadly nearing the end of their lives. Followed by those in older age groups. In the last two years, age groups. In the last two years, over £2.3 billion has been paid out in compensation to people who are either infected or affected. And I would just say to the hon. Gentleman who has also been a long term campaigner on this, the Treasury is playing its part. We're making sure that those payments can be made through the annually managed expenditure, so there is no constraint on payments that can be made by the Treasury rules.
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None Portrait Q3. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2026 on household living costs. (901854)
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Question number three, please. With permission, I would like to answer question three and ten together. My Budget last week took action to help people worried about
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None Portrait Q6. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of levels of Government borrowing on the economy. (901857)
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Andrew Robson. Number six, Mr. Speaker.
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James Murray Portrait Rt Hon James Murray MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General (Ealing North, Labour )
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Mr. speaker, he talks about >> Mr. speaker, he talks about missed opportunities. They had a missed opportunity for 14 years when they were in government to properly support high streets across the country. This government is giving real support from April next year to businesses on high streets across the country, starting with a 20% saving for pubs that the Prime Minister announced in July. Added to that, taking 70,000 small businesses out of paying business rates altogether and a real terms two years freeze

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for all other businesses in England. That is real help for businesses helping them to succeed. Daniel Francis question number

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Daniel Francis question number nine, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister sorry, sorry, Mr. Speaker. Mr. speaker, as I was just Speaker. Mr. speaker, as I was just saying, the government is backing high streets and small businesses with a package that means that all retail, hospitality and leisure retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England will see their business rates frozen in real terms, reduced or cut to zero. The government is also helping employers, particularly small and medium employers, to recruit the workers that they need to by expanding the local apprenticeship services and providing eligible SMEs with a £2,000 hiring payment.

 When recruiting young ones.
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John Healey Portrait Rt Hon John Healey MP, The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, Labour)
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Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The hon. Member raises an important issue, and it touches on the broader topic that this government is focusing relentlessly on, which is making sure that through reforms to procurement, we can back British business and make sure more of the goods and services that the British government buys are built and made here in the UK.

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I was we go to topicals Graeme Downie.

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Number one, please, Mr. Speaker. Chancellor. Mr. speaker, three. Weeks ago I attended the International Monetary Fund annual meeting. The IMF said that Britain now stands out among G7 nations for now stands out among G7 nations for our fiscal credibility. Last week, my Budget continued that progress. This was a Budget built on fiscal discipline. I meet our fiscal rules. I bring borrowing down in every year of the forecast period, and it means the UK is now set to reduce the deficit in the UK by more than any other G7 country by 2029. This was a Budget that was a clear political choice to give Britain breathing space today and fresh hope for the future.

And as our new Treasury analysis shows, our overall winter support will benefit those in the lowest incomes most. This is how Britain will help British families in the midst. In the midst of the Iran war, a war that the party opposite wanted to jump straight into support. Mr. speaker, funded by a fair and time limited tax on banks which they oppose. This is our choice. This is our Budget. This is a Budget for working people.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
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None Portrait Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade if he will make a statement on the situation at Poundland and actions possible to protect jobs
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Thank you. >> To ask the Secretary of State for business, innovation, Science and Technology if will make a statement on the situation in Poundland and possible actions to protect jobs.
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Kate Dearden Portrait Kate Dearden MP, Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )
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The Minister welcome Jen Craft. >> The Minister welcome Jen Craft. >> Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Before I answer, I'd like to declare my interest as a member of declare my interest as a member of Usdaw trade union. I am deeply concerned about the uncertainty surrounding Poundland's future, and the impact this could have on its thousands of staff and their families, who are at the forefront of my mind, especially in the run up to Christmas. Poundland is not currently in administration and the business continues to trade, but this is a worrying time for employees, suppliers and communities. We are establishing the facts, keeping in close contact with those involved and monitoring developments closely.

The Secretary of State and I are continuing to engage closely on this issue. We have met and are in contact with the trade union Usdaw, who I know are extremely concerned about their members jobs and their livelihoods, and I want to thank them for their work and engagement. We're also be meeting with Barry Williams, the managing director of Poundland, this week. Earlier this week, officials met with Gordon Brothers and the Secretary of State is due to meet with them to continue to press our concerns and establish the facts. However, there are ongoing commercial negotiations concerning a private business and it would not be appropriate for government to seek to influence the outcome or comment on the merits of individual bids.

The owners should be acting in the best interests of their loyal UK staff and stores. What we want is the best possible outcome for Poundland's workforce and the future of the business. The 12,000 staff and the many thousands of suppliers are at the forefront of our minds, and we want to see an outcome that protects as many jobs as possible and keeps as much of the business trading as possible. Government stands ready to ensure that affected employees can access the appropriate support should that be needed. The Prime Minister has set out his aspiration to bring good growth to every postcode, including by making high streets a new symbol of Britain's renaissance.

Last week, the government published our high street strategy. The strategy goes further, setting out the principles for high street success, practical support for businesses through the business rate system and more policies to support vibrancy and footfall. This includes establishing a high streets first principle to steer the location of public estates, to drive footfall and co-location opportunities between public services. The fundamentals for doing business in the UK are strong. Our economic strategy to deliver growth is investment across the public and private sectors and in every postcode. Our industrial strategy, trade strategy, small business strategy and a plan to make work pay address the long standing barriers to growth.

Retail is vital to employment and the economy, and we recognise that the sector has been through a significant period of change. We want all types of retail to thrive now and in the future, and that is why we are working closely with businesses to understand what they need to succeed and to grow. Minister Weston and I are providing a briefing for members of Parliament in this House this afternoon on the support that is available to employees who may be impacted, and I want to emphasise that in the event a retail company enters administration, my officials would work where appropriate with the Ministers, administrators, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Insolvency Service and local partners to ensure appropriate support is available to affected employees.

We stand ready to support them if they need to move into new employment, however. And finally, Mr. Speaker, our priority is always protecting jobs and the Secretary of State and I will continue to engage with the company to secure the best possible outcome.
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Gareth Snell Portrait Gareth Snell MP (Stoke-on-Trent Central, Labour )
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Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for granting the Urgent Questions. I thank the Minister for Questions. I thank the Minister for the tone and content of her answer. At the heart of this are the 11,000 people whose jobs hang in the balance, who, through no fault of their own, now look to whether or not this side of Christmas they will have a job at all. Mr. speaker, those jobs are not concentrated as if it was a big factory, but they are dispersed across this country in towns like Hanley and Stoke on Trent, and in your own constituency of Chorley, as well as the supply chains in institutions in Makerfield and Harlow, which are.

My friend from Harlow were talking about this morning. But this company has survived because the workers turned it round and we're in the situation we are today because choices have been made by Gordon Brothers. They have rejected solvent bids. They are seeking to push a company into administration for their own personal profit. And fundamentally, their interest does not appear to be the 11,000 constituents that we all represent who take home money to look after their kids, put food on the table and live a life that they deserve. I'm very glad that the Minister is continuing to meet, but the management of Poundland isn't the problem.

It is Gordon Brothers. So could I ask the Minister, very simply, if we get to a point where administration takes place, if 11,000 jobs and the supply chain jobs are put at risk, what levers will she be able to use to save as many jobs as she can? What pressure can this House collectively give her to put on to the owners? To accept one of the solvent bids to protect the jobs? And what can this House do to send a message to those, to the Gordon brothers, that the predatory capitalism that they are putting into this company will not be tolerated, because we in this country will always stand with people before profit.
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Bradley Thomas Portrait Bradley Thomas MP (Bromsgrove, Conservative)
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Minister Bradley Thomas. >> The speaker. >> For thousands of Poundland workers, the question today is simple will I still have a job? Behind every store, facing uncertainty, our workers, real people with bills to pay and families to support. And as a West Midlands MP, this will hit close to home with the headquarters being in the region. The thousands of shoppers who rely on this store to make their money stretch further as the cost of living worsens. Their question is also simple will they still have a local, affordable place to shop as Christmas approaches? Workers and customers deserve clear answers about what happens next.

Why was the proposed management backed rescue bid rejected? Can an agreement still be reached if individual stores are sold, will their employees keep their jobs? And when will communities learn whether their local branch has a future? The current economic landscape is hostile to British business. Between stifling red tape, skyrocketing energy bills and surging employment costs, another well-known British brand being in trouble feels like a surprise, less like a surprise and more like an inevitability. Rather than admitting their own vindictive policies have driven the cost of doing business to an unsustainable breaking point, the government is instead locked in a desperate squabble with reform over who can intervene the most to engineer a state sponsored rescue.

The reality is clear increased political interference is a failed strategy that offers nothing but false promises to workers and consumers alike. True security cannot be micro-managed into existence by Whitehall. If the government genuinely wants to revive our economy, it must start dismantling the barriers to growth that they put in place since taking office. Running a business should be an ambitious pursuit, not a high stakes gamble against state induced risks. That is why, rather than looking to interfere in yet another business dispute, they should instead focus on slashing the unnecessary red tape that is suffocating businesses, lower business rates that hinders high street growth, reduce the cost of employment and make it rewarding to invest in people.

Deliver lower energy that businesses across the nation are calling for, and get tough on the wave of shoplifting that's plaguing our high streets. We must protect workers livelihoods by allowing businesses to get on with driving economic growth and employing people, rather than looking to stifle their every move.
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Kate Dearden Portrait Kate Dearden MP, Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Halifax, Labour )
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Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I must say I'm quite disappointed today.

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Yeah. Vindictive economic policies and a squabble with reform. That's your answer to 12,000 people whose jobs are at risk in the run up to Christmas. And those thousands of suppliers across the country, and saying that the government should stop interfering in another business. That is exactly not what we are saying today and not what I am doing. And if you listen to my statement, Madam Speaker, he would have known that we're not interfering with the auction. There are current ongoing commercial negotiations about a private business, and we don't want to impede or influence that process or common individual bids, which I said in my remarks.

It is legitimate for the government to ask a business that they are doing everything they can to protect employees and suppliers, to get clarity of their plans and a clear understanding of the situation. That's why we're saying that business owners have a responsibility to their employees, and in this case, 12,000 of them across the country. It's right for us to put pressure on the company. Ownership responsibilities as well as rights. Madam Deputy Speaker were clear as this government of what our expectations are and why we are taking the responsible approach, not to sit by and do nothing.

What's the point in politicians in government if we took that approach?
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Sarah Olney Portrait Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)
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Liberal Democrat spokesperson >> Liberal Democrat spokesperson Sarah Olney very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. The news about Poundland will be deeply worrying for its will be deeply worrying for its 12,000 staff members and their families, as the Select Committee chair says, the 30,000 members of staff in the supply chain and of course, for the communities where its stores are located. And as the Poundland founder, Steve Smith, has said, once these jobs are lost, they are lost. So, and for many families, Poundland is one of the few affordable options left. People are already struggling with an unsustainably high cost of living, and they now face losing somewhere that they rely on to make their money go further.

But the fall of Poundland raises bigger questions about our high streets. Its troubles show how much pressure both shoppers and high street businesses are under. The Prime Minister has set out his ambition to revive the high street. However, the collapse of one of the UK's most well-known and affordable retailers highlights the extent to which our high streets are struggling. The business rate system puts our high street shops at an unfair disadvantage compared to online retail giants, and the national insurance hike imposed by this government is unfair and counterproductive. With unemployment levels already at alarmingly high levels, will the Minister now listen to the Liberal Democrats calls to properly overhaul the broken business rates system and scrap the unfair jobs tax, at the very least for part time workers?
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None Portrait Ten Minute Rule Motion: Food labelling (halal and kosher meat)
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Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.
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Esther McVey Portrait Rt Hon Esther McVey MP (Tatton, Conservative)
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move that leave be given to bring in a bill to introduce compulsory labelling of halal and kosher meat and products containing halal and kosher meat, and for connected kosher meat, and for connected purposes. I am reintroducing this bill following the considerable support it received when it was support it received when it was previously brought to the House. As the concerns of lack of consumer the concerns of lack of consumer choice, animal welfare and transparency have not gone away, I therefore hope the House forgives me when I repeat much of what I said last time, as the arguments for this bill haven't changed and remain compelling.

Madam Deputy Speaker, this bill does not seek to ban halal or kosher meat. It seeks to introduce clear compulsory labelling so that consumers know exactly what they are purchasing. Every consumer has a right to make an informed choice, yet that choice is currently undermined by the lack of clear information, leaving consumers unaware that the meat they are purchasing and consuming may be halal or kosher. Currently, labelling arrangements are voluntary and inconsistent. The bill would address that gap by introducing clear and compulsory labelling, giving consumers the information they need to make the choices that reflect their beliefs, values and dietary requirements.

Some people particularly want to buy halal or kosher meat. Other people particularly want to avoid buying it. This bill will benefit both of those groups. In order to produce halal and kosher meat, an animal's throat is cut at the point of slaughter. In the case of halal meat, the animal is often stunned before it is killed. Although it may not be under the method used to produce kosher meat. There is no pre stunning for many consumers. Whether an animal was stunned before slaughter is an important animal welfare consideration, and what began as a limited religious exemption has become an increasingly significant part of the meat market.

The government's own figures show that of the approximate 1 billion animals processed in England and Wales in 2024, an estimated 215 million were slaughtered to produce halal meat. On those numbers, what was meant to be an exemption, an exception is certainly not. And government guidance is clear that meat that results from slaughter and unstunned slaughter must be intended for consumption by Jews or Muslims. But production is clearly going way beyond that. And alarmingly, the United Kingdom now exports halal meat overseas. And between 2018 and 2019, there was almost a 700% increase in sheepmeat exported to the United Arab Emirates.

Consumers are increasingly interested in how meat is produced and of those concerned about animal welfare. They want to know whether an animal has been stunned before slaughter. Equally, some people wish to know whether meat has been prepared according to a particular religious rite. None of these are unreasonable positions. The important point is that consumers should have the information they need to make an informed choice. The legislation regulating animal slaughter is currently set out in the assimilated EU regulations 1099 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing, together with the animal welfare of animals at the time of Killing England Regulations 2015.

Under those provisions, animals must generally be stunned before slaughter, although exemptions exist for slaughter carried out in accordance with specific religious observance. However, while the law provides an exemption for stunning requirements, it does not require meat produced under those exemptions to be labelled. As a result, consumers are often left without information that they would regard as highly relevant to their purchasing decisions. The government has previously stated that consumers should be able to make informed choice about the food they buy. Yet informed choice is only possible when relevant information is available. In the absence of mandatory labelling, consumers are frequently unaware whether the meat they purchased had been produced under a religious exemption, or whether the animal was stunned before slaughter.

That cannot be described as meaningful consumer choice. The lack of compulsory labelling has helped create what is effectively known as a two tier system within the industry. Some slaughterhouses comply with the general requirement to stun animals before slaughter, while others operate under the religious exemption. Currently, some of the UK's largest retailers, including Sainsbury's, Tesco's, Marks and Spencers and Asda sell halal or kosher meat without informing consumers and take away outlets such as Domino's, Pizza Hut and KFC serve it without consumers being made aware. Nuneaton meat is also served in schools by 17 local councils, the majority of which are not Islamic faith schools, meaning that parents and pupils may have had no idea what they were eating.

 And it is also being served in UK hospitals where patients do not know what they are eating. In late 2024, the Labour Party published its animal welfare Strategy, which claimed to set out a comprehensive agenda for improving animal welfare. It addressed issues such as boiling of live lobsters, carbon dioxide, stunning for pigs and the treatment of farmed fish. Yet despite spanning more than 12,500 words, the strategy made no reference to the slaughter of animals without prior stunning and contained no proposal for clearer labelling of halal and kosher meat. If animal welfare is a genuine priority for this government, then that cannot be overlooked.

For a strategy presented as a landmark contribution to animal welfare. It certainly is not. Public support for greater transparency is overwhelming. Food and. U2, which is a bi annual official statistics survey commissioned by the Food Standards Agency, found that the most common spontaneously expressed food concern in 2024 was food production method. In August 2022, almost 99% of respondents to the government's call for evidence on labelling for animal welfare said that method of slaughter labelling should be introduced in research from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board. 92% of halal consumers state that clear halal certification is important.

So is it not time we updated our regulations and demanded that our meat was clearly and fully labelled? Surely that is what consumer choice is all about, and I would wager that the overwhelming majority of animal lovers in the UK expect the House of Commons to support this Bill today. The Bill will improve animal

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welfare and give choice. I urge all members of the House to support it. Yes.

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Yes. The question is that the right hon. Member have leave to bring in hon. Member have leave to bring in the Bill. As many as of that opinion say aye. I of the contrary, no. I think the ayes have it. The no. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it. Who will prepare and bring in the bill?

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bring in the bill? Sir. Roger Gale Alberto Costa. Dame Karen Bradley, sir. Edward Leigh Graham Stringer Rupert Lowe Sammy Wilson. Jim Allister. Lee Anderson. Sarah Pochin and myself. Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker.

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A. Food labelling, halal and kosher

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meat bill. Second Reading. What day? Friday the 15th of January.

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Friday the 15th of January.

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Friday the 15th of January. Well done. The clerk will now proceed to read the orders of the day.

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read the orders of the day. Ways and means adjourned. Debate on question.
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Jonathan Reynolds Portrait Debate: Conclusion of the Budget Debate Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )
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Now the question is, as on the Order Paper, Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is a pleasure to open the third and final day of the Budget debate. And, colleagues, as we begin, let us, I think, pause and remember what is really essential to the debate today. Where are we as a country? What do we really need to talk about in the debate today? And I would put it like this. Madam Deputy Speaker, in the last year, gas prices have tripled. Oil prices are up by over 60%. Our borrowing costs, alongside all of the major economies, have risen.

And yet business investment is rising. Our economic growth has accelerated, and the IMF have singled out the UK for praise for our deficit reduction plan. It is testament to the extraordinary resilience of the British people, British businesses and the British economy. And whilst reading the official documentation, there is no doubt that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and in Iran have driven up costs here and around the world, despite these significant economic headwinds. The Chancellor came here last week and delivered a substantial cost of living package to help the British people. He delivered long term reforms to strengthen growth, and he commanded market confidence while he did so in a way that eluded the previous conservative government.

And there is not a shred of complacency on this side of the House. But the package he announced built on the success we have already achieved year on year growth, year on year growth again above 2%, an economy that is growing per head, not just through higher immigration, but because living standards are increasing and wages rising faster than prices. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, it is clear, as we stand here today, that we can say the economy is stronger today than when this government came to power. But we know things are still tough. That's why the Budget unveiled much needed breathing space for families, for businesses and for working people.

And beyond that breathing space, we are beginning and proceeding with the big changes needed to put our country on a better course. Reindustrialising Britain driving good growth in every postcode and strengthening our national security. This Budget shows entrepreneurs, inventors and investors that the UK is the best place to start and grow a business with this government, using its industrial strategy and wider policy platform to back them every step of the way. We cannot insulate people from every pressure or meet every ask in one go, but we can provide the targeted support that is necessary where it can make the biggest practical difference.

That is why, to help our high streets and SMEs, the Budget contains a £1 billion business rates package in England. Shops, restaurants and cafes of all sizes will get a two year real terms freeze and around 70,000 more small retail, hospitality and leisure properties will be taken out of business rates altogether. To ensure that our high streets are vibrant into the future, the Budget also commits us to upgrading 600 Post Office branches this financial year. This will help them provide more accessible, welcoming spaces, simpler transactions and a speedier service for customers. That also includes essential banking services upon which so many of our high street businesses and SMEs depend.

Indeed, the House will know that all of these reforms form part of a much broader package being implemented by this government to support the 5.7 million SMEs in this country, those which are the beating heart of our economy and the backbone of our communities. With our small business plan, we are bringing down costs and using the levers of government to back British business. We are in particular, cracking down on the scourge of late payments. That shuts down the equivalent of 38 firms a day and costs the economy almost £11 billion a year. Our commercial payments bill will give us the strongest laws to tackle these late payments in the whole of the G7, with the bill's Second Reading set to take place this month, something I hope will command cross-party support.

We're also reducing the regulatory burden on our small and medium sized businesses, too. Indeed, when the Prime Minister, Lord Leng, and I met with business owners at number ten North last month, we proudly accepted 14 recommendations from the Small Business Taskforce. It has been working in partnership with government to reduce the bureaucracy holding British firms back. We are now making it simpler for smaller firms to bid for public contracts. We are streamlining ONS business surveys to reduce form filling, and at the same time, we're making it easier for businesses to find support on gov.uk and help them report disproportionate regulations.

We're also delivering to a Nautilus once ambition and as part of this, we are pausing the companies House Profit and loss filing requirement for April 2028. I would also like to particularly thank the Federation for Small Businesses for all their work on this agenda and for their particular support on that decision, where there is an opportunity to save businesses time and money, we will seek to do that. And as proof positive of that agenda, the Budget included over £600 million per year savings in regulatory administration with streamlined company reporting requirements and reduced reporting burdens for asset managers.

A simpler home buying and selling process will also save businesses over £100 million a year. Of course,

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I'll give way. And remember. I have to ask. What's the. Right hon. Member listening to a different

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Member listening to a different Budget to the one that I heard because I don't recognise anything he said there. And in the OBR report itself, when it came to burdens and cost imposed by regulations on business, the OBR said that the employment Bill, the said that the employment Bill, the unemployment bill, will actually add to the cost of business completely. The contrary of what he just said.

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just said. Secretary of State don't want to say the hon. Member should listen a bit harder to the Chancellor when he's giving a Budget, because I think the Chancellor went into detail on that, and I will expand on particular what the better regulation task force will mean, but specifically on the employment rights agenda, we know you don't like it. It's not a secret. But I would simply say to the hon. Member, we have a commitment, a manifesto commitment to address, in particular, insecurity in the workplace. For instance, those 1 million people on zero hours contracts.

But let's not forget, let's not conservative colleagues, not forget that the premise of that particular measure is where a person works a regular number of hours they will receive if they wish to a contract for those hours, not additional costs. Additional costs are not present when you're getting a contract reflecting what you are already working and the rest of the agenda. It may not be popular with the Conservative Party, but it's certainly popular with the country and because of and because of that agenda, because of that agenda. I know the Conservatives didn't stick to their own manifesto commitments, but I think we will stick to ours in this chamber.

Of course, because of that, we want to reduce burdens in other places, an entirely noble agenda, and one that reflects the interests of British business. And specifically, on his point about whether you may be aware, the Chancellor did speak of this in the statement. There is our aspiration to reduce business burdens by 25% over the course of this Parliament. That is going to be delivered through the New, Better Regulation Executive. It brings together the power of the Treasury, the Cabinet Office and my Department to move us to more a more streamlined and proportionate regulatory system, one that spurs growth, investment and innovation across the country.

And I also warmly welcome the Chancellor increasing access to finance for ambitious founders and entrepreneurs. In the Budget. He introduced a new Founders relief to encourage a new wave of wealth creation. Founders and early investors will benefit from a 10% capital gains tax rate on up to £10 million of lifetime gains, doomed from the start of coalition, said this. The Chancellor has delivered the boldest action backing start ups and scale ups of any government in years. Meanwhile, the trading allowance for people starting new ventures is being tripled from 1000 to £3000 and £700 million is going towards Home-grown innovation, strengthening Britain's sovereignty and ensuring that tomorrow's technologies are developed and adopted right here in the UK.

On top of all this, the Budget gives the British Business Bank £1.4 billion of additional commercial equity capacity, allowing it to back specialist VC funds in strategic sectors and a larger growth funds capable of writing the checks needed to keep the UK's fastest growing companies scaling. Here, the package is expected to leverage around £4.2 billion of private capital and create 14,000 additional jobs, and this builds on the landmark investments the bank has already made, backing businesses across the UK from Optima Partners, the Edinburgh based AI consultancy, to Pharos Marine, the Norfolk manufacturer of navigation aids for offshore wind farms and ports, and Oxford Space Systems, whose satellite antenna were launched into orbit earlier this year.

And, Madam Deputy Speaker, our industrial strategy is also making a difference. It is an essential part of our ambition to reindustrialise Britain and back our own sovereign capabilities, and it is delivering on industrial energy costs, reversing what we inherited from the last government with the highest industrial energy costs in the developed world. We're slashing electricity bills by 25% for over 10,000 British manufacturers. Through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, we are cutting electricity costs for these businesses by up to £40 per megawatt hour, bringing their costs closer into line with competitors across Europe, with eligible businesses also receiving a one off additional payment in 2027 to cover the support they would have received if Bics had been in place from April this year.

Correcting years of conservative failure. And we're also channelling investment into the eight eight high growth sectors of our economy, including life sciences and advanced manufacturing. The Budget confirmed over £1 billion of new life sciences investment from From Vertex and ConvaTec, backed by almost £70 million of government funding. And it also gave the green light to a partnership. I am particularly proud of a partnership with Rolls-Royce to develop their next generation of turbine engine technology here in Britain. This is the single biggest re-industrialisation opportunity

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the UK has before it. Yeah, just £2.5 billion investment. Of course. I thank.

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I thank. The Secretary of State for giving way. I very much welcome the investment in Rolls-Royce in particular. Many of my constituents work there. So can I just ask the Secretary of State what impact the investment will have on

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investment will have on opportunities for young people in the Derbyshire Dales? Extremely grateful to my friend

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Extremely grateful to my friend for the question. This £2.5 billion of investment will support jobs across the Midlands, across Bristol and across our country. But the significance is it's not just another public private investment in an exciting area of the future. It is a genuine opportunity for a leading British firm to break into an incredibly lucrative market currently dominated by two main players, where we, I believe, could be very significant in the future. And I'm particularly pleased to tell my hon. Friend. I the Rolls-Roy Derby last week with the Prime Minister and Chancellor. Everyone in the House will be aware of just how outstanding Rolls-Royce are when it comes to apprenticeships and opportunities for the next generation.

I can tell every member of the House that Rolls-Royce themselves are excited about what the future holds for the UK, and the government is going to work hand in hand with them to make their growth ambitions a reality. Madam Deputy Speaker, we're also backing British business, not just to our industrial strategy, but by making sure we are always remaining an outward and open looking economy, one that stays true to the principles upon which the modern British economy was built. We do intend to reindustrialise our country, but will not use punitive trade measures and tariffs to do so.

In many cases, tariffs hinder businesses and hurt consumers far more than they help them. Tariffs are ultimately paid by your own people, which is why this government is using the Budget to suspend tariffs on over 100 essentials. This supports farmers who import fertilisers, it supports households who use heating oil, and it supports people with their supermarket shop too, because it lowers costs on products like baked beans, chocolate, marmalade and fruit. Government cannot reduce all the pressures on the family shop overnight, but we can use all the levers at our disposal to bring prices down, and that is exactly what we are doing.

While other nations turn inward, restricting trade with the rest of the world, we stand as a proudly internationalist country, a global hub for trade and investment, and one which is ready to deepen our partnerships with new friends and old allies, not least the European Union, which remains our largest trading market. That is the message we'll be taking into the UK EU summit later this month, and our ambition is clear. We want to continue simplifying trade. We want to conclude negotiations on our SPS and emissions trading deals, which could add up to £9 billion a year to the UK economy, and which would be a huge win for small business.

Thank you. John Hayes mindful.

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Of what. He just said about trade, can reconcile that with the desire to reconcile that with the desire to re industrialise, to manufacture more, to make more of what we more, to make more of what we consume. For an uncertain world, national economic resilience is more important than ever. And yet more important than ever. And yet we run a huge trade deficit which has grown year on year, and our has grown year on year, and our dependence is upon many countries who are not our friends and who may

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pull the plug on Britain at will. Well, I agree with the sentiment the hon. Member is putting forward. the hon. Member is putting forward. I think it's one of the most substantive issues the House has to grapple with. I would say, first of grapple with. I would say, first of all, there is no inconsistency with being proud of the services led nature of the UK economy, whilst recognising the essential contribution advanced manufacturing makes. I believe there are sectors of the UK economy that stand potentially to gain from this current phase of innovation, AI and goods.

For instance, robotics could actually reduce our wage differential with low wage economies and return industrial functions to the UK. But I also think the basis of British industry will always be an export led. If you take the automotive or aerospace sectors, that's key. So I don't see a tension between strengthening our resilience, our domestic industrial capacity and being an outward internationalist facing country to the rest of the world. I believe the two things have to go together. And a specific example I would give him of that would be something like our critical minerals strategy. So we cannot reduce our dependence entirely on other countries, but we can reduce the degree of exposure to particular individual markets and then use the levers of government, whether that's investing in tungsten or in lithium mining in the south west of England.

Looking at how the refining process works, working with allies around that, it's a balance between the two things. But I recognise absolutely the the substance of the hon. Member's question and the importance to a debate like this in relation to the UQ summit. Madam Deputy Speaker I also want to say, in addition to the premise of the deal we're seeking to strike, we do also want to make progress on EV automotive rules of origin, on steel tariffs and on economic security, recognising that in many cases we share similar challenges. We face them together and we can overcome them together.

And to that end, the Prime Minister will say more later this year about our options for our long term relationship with the EU, one that strengthens our collective security

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and our collective prosperity. I'll give way to my hon. Friend Peter Swallow.

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I thank. Him for giving way. He is making a really important point about our relationship with the EU. He'll be relationship with the EU. He'll be aware that Bracknell is home to lots of companies that work in lots of companies that work in cloud technologies. Is he alive to concerns around the EU's proposed concerns around the EU's proposed cloud and AI Development Act, and will he ensure that as part of our negotiations in the summit and thereafter, we are addressing those concerns robustly because we do

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need to get that right? Secretary well, I can tell my hon. Friend, that the agenda known hon. Friend, that the agenda known in shorthand as Made in Europe, that affects Carter, affects the Industrial Accelerator Act, actually runs through as many as 50 actually runs through as many as 50 different pieces of EU legislative files is not just a top priority files is not just a top priority for my Ministers and I in this department, but actually for the whole government. It cannot be the whole government. It cannot be the case that in each separate area we have to seek a bespoke solution to it.

We need something that provides business with the certainty going forward. We need to recognise in a way, frankly, the previous government didn't, that whatever our relationship to the EU, things the EU do will affect us. That is the nature of integrated supply chains and a key market on your doorstep. And I am confident, and I would say and credit the Prime Minister with this, that the approach he has led from the front with has given us the space to provide the answers for this agenda. It is far more productive than the kind of adversarial relationship we saw towards the European Union from the previous government.

And at the bottom line is it gets results for people in this area. Well, I'm tempted to respond to that, but I'll proceed with the speeches. Of course we will. As ever, waiting for the shadow at home bench. I would just actually I will I'll bite. Come on. When there is something of such fundamental importance to British industry, like access to the single market, when it is and always will be, our major trading market, gaining access for British businesses, for businesses based in the UK and for British workers to make sure they don't lose their jobs.

That is not giving the other side everything that they want. That is delivering for Britain in a way that side of

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the House never quite managed. To form for us. Sir James.

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Sir James. Cleverly I thank the right hon. Gentleman for giving way. I Gentleman for giving way. I negotiated directly with Maros Sefcovic, the lead negotiator for the European Union. We had a very good working relationship. We got a lot done, but. But will the right lot done, but. But will the right hon. Gentleman not concede, not understand that standing at the despatch box and setting out the UK's desired end position has a huge advantage to the EU negotiating team, who are not trying to damage the UK, they are just trying to get the best possible deal for the EU and setting out.

Setting out the desired end state from UK's position publicly like this actually makes his job in future negotiations harder, which is why we get rolled over by the excellent

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EU negotiators. Every time that his government goes across to Brussels. Secretary of State.

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Secretary of State. Colleagues, it's. It's great to receive some advice from the Conservative Party on negotiating with Europe, isn't it? I have a lot with Europe, isn't it? I have a lot of time for the hon. Member. I've had time to remember. Let me say, first of all, the premise of the UK EU summit just perhaps, perhaps just listen to the premise of the UK EU summit Agreement on SBS Food and Agricultural Trade on emissions and Agricultural Trade on emissions trading on electricity systems, working with each other that is already in the public domain. We agreed the memorandum on that last year.

This is about the implementation of that deal. On the question of whether we would like the single market to operate rules that completely shut out British industry, British supply chains. I don't think it's a particular secret to say we don't fancy that very much, and we're seeking a solution to it. And I would just say, going back to the deal, he said he was very proud of the deal. He will know himself. You left us a

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few things left over with that. I mean, the rules of origin. Order, automotive. Sorry. That's the second time the

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Secretary of State has said you. I didn't leave anything. Secretary of State. Wouldn't possibly suggest you

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Wouldn't possibly suggest you negotiate the deal with the European Union. Madam Deputy Speaker, I, I can see why you'd want to distance yourself from that, want to distance yourself from that, as we all would. Let's move on. The. as we all would. Let's move on. The. I'm Deputy speaker of the British. People should know that we will always seek to make things a little bit easier where we can. We will transform our country for the long term, but we will also act now to provide support for people in the short term. That's what the Budget was all about.

And that's why 2.3 million workers will benefit from increases to the national minimum wage. Thanks to these changes, a full time worker on the National Living Wage will see their earnings rise by £910 a year before tax. It is a balanced approach which I recognise and it recognises market conditions, but I would want to put on record my thanks to the Low Pay Commission for their expert advice and support on these measures. I was also pleased that in the Budget, this government committed to expanding parental pay. We are making the system fairer so that more parents can spend time with their family after the birth or adoption of their children.

From April 2029, self-employed fathers, partners and adopters in Great Britain will also be able to access a parental allowance. Those only recently employed, those who have been made redundant and those who have an irregular pattern of employment, will also qualify for some degree of financial support. All in all, over 150,000 people in Great Britain per year will benefit from these reforms, thanks to the changes that we're making, things that will be easier for them and for working parents everywhere. As the Chancellor said last week, this is a down payment that will begin to address some of the issues around working men and maternity provision.

As we prepare for the full outcomes of our review into the full parental leave system next year. I'd also like to acknowledge that many in this country are people who are quietly, conscientiously providing care for a loved one, whether that's a child, a parent, a grandparent, a sibling, friend or neighbour. About 5.8 million people in the UK provide unpaid care for family members or friends in the Budget. Madam Deputy Speaker, this government is moving to support them. We're replacing the current Carer's Allowance earnings cliff edge rules with an earnings taper, and this alone will benefit 50,000 unpaid carers.

A real injustice being righted. We're also reviewing employment rights for unpaid carers to help those balancing their caring responsibilities with work, because it is not easy to hold down a job whilst helping a relative out of bed, getting them dressed, taking them to the doctor or to hospital appointments and cooking them meals while working 35 or 40 hours a week. This review looking at unpaid leave, the right to return paid carer's leave and paid leave for parents of seriously ill children will conclude in early 2027, and I can show the House that we will act on its findings.

Yeah. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, this is what we mean by threshold good growth and support for those who need it. In our first hundred days, this government has shown that we will do all we can to give people and businesses the breathing space they need. This Budget has shown that commitment to with real, tangible measures to help with business rates, cut tariffs, reduced energy bills, slashed, living costs lowered and the minimum wage increased. And we're doing all of this while keeping government borrowing falling faster than any other G7 economy. We're doing it while getting employment up this year higher than previously forecast in March.

And we're doing it while ensuring that business investment relative to the size of the economy remains at its highest levels for a decade, and whole economy investment is higher than at any other time since 1990. For all of these reasons, Madam Deputy Speaker, people should have hope, fresh hope for what the future holds for them, for our economy and our country. They should know that we are resilient, that we should be optimistic for the future, and that the best days of this nation lie ahead. And that is why I proudly commend this Budget to the House.
14:12
Julia Lopez Portrait Julia Lopez MP (Hornchurch and Upminster, Conservative)
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The Shadow Secretary of State, Julia Lopez. Julia Lopez. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The government's given today's The government's given today's Budget debate, a theme fresh Hope for the future. It will be closed by the Chief Secretary, who this weekend let slip. I don't think employers are working people. I recommend that she does not deliver her message of fresh hope to the salon owners, the cafe owners, the shop owners, the services firms, the gym owners, the pub landlords, builders, dentists and restaurateurs in her constituency of Wycombe. For she may never get served again. These are the people who are not only providing for themselves, but taking risks to build businesses that employ and serve others.

Everything they do is fuelled by hope, the hope that their relentless hard work will one day create something bigger than themselves, a better life for their families and employees. But they feel hopeless right now. Madam Deputy Speaker, many are questioning whether they can make the numbers work. Tax regulation, energy costs have all relentlessly climbed, but if they put their prices up again to cover those costs, they risk driving their customers away. That is the reality they face as working people filling shifts themselves because they can no longer afford the staff working harder simply to stand still, wondering whether they can continue to justify the sacrifice to their families.

But if they pack up, it is a problem for us all because it is their taxes that are helping to keep this show on the road. I don't think employees, employers, employers are working people. It was one of those labour truths, Madam Deputy Speaker the sort of Labour truth that Labour chief secretaries have such form in letting slip out. I'm afraid there is no money. Kind regards and good luck. The handover note of another Labour Chief Secretary after their last chance in power in 2010. Who left the right hon. Member for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North with no money when he wrote his fateful note?

Well, it was one of his predecessors as chief secretary, a man who, during his second tilt at the Labour leadership, was forced to apologise for his own failure to get public spending under control before a brutal financial crisis hit. Madam Deputy Speaker, that Chief Secretary is now Prime Minister, and his first Budget suggests he has not learned his lesson. Employers are not working people. There is no money. We fail to control public spending before a crisis. Sorry. Three Labour admissions, three different moments in our recent political history that tell us an awful lot about the way this party governs.

A neat summary, too, of this Budget, for there is precious little in it for working people. Labour has no money to fund the basics of defence, and it is failing to get public spending under control. No wonder that despite all of the briefings about a Budget for bloody minded entrepreneurs, it undershoots at almost every opportunity. Take business rates. I welcome the Chancellor's decision to exempt 70,000 businesses from rates altogether, but conservative plans

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would take a quarter of a million firms out. Of range.

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On the minimum wage. It is right that the Chancellor has not levelled it up for younger workers, but conservative plans would halve but conservative plans would halve employer national Insurance for under 25 seconds. Labour offers employers the temporary ban of the employers the temporary ban of the Youth Guarantee, but it is a scheme necessary only because this government has made it so much more government has made it so much more expensive and risky to take people on in the first place. Then look under the bonnet of the new founders. Relief entrepreneurs will discover something hopelessly complex, with very few likely to benefit.

This is no return of entrepreneurs relief, and it comes as this government halves the limit on business asset disposal relief. Last year, 61,000 people claimed that relief and only a few hundred are thought likely to benefit from founders relief. Labour's own entrepreneurship adviser, Alexandra Depledge, has left her role after mere months, saying that the government treats entrepreneurship and innovation as a sideshow. And what about sole traders and freelancers? The personal trainers, electricians, creatives, the people who don't have an army of accountants. Their reward for hard work, having to report their earnings to HMRC more frequently so that they can be squeezed for more tax.

While there is no such vigilance on checking eligibility for benefits claimants. Has the Chancellor ever had to deal with the realities of cash flow, or of a few good months, followed by a fallow period? Meanwhile, by taxing banks, the Chancellor is making them less internationally competitive while driving up the cost of borrowing for businesses across the economy, shifting energy costs from green levies to general taxation does nothing to tackle the underlying drivers of our staggeringly uncompetitive energy prices. The Chancellor slipped out another Labour truth last week when he said the Energy Secretary opposed jackdaw. I expect she's opposing Rosebank to.

We can forget Reindustrialisation and consider British food producers. It's all well and good to take a few pence off imported gherkins. We support cheaper goods, but at the same time Labour should help domestic producers compete. Instead, they are hamstrung by higher taxes,

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costs. Certainly she knows she left us. Conservative Party left us the Conservative Party left us the highest industrial energy costs in the developed world. Is she saying she opposes taking policy costs off bills into taxation? I think she said that that would obviously result in higher bills than we have now.

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now. With lower bills across the board. His is just shifting costs from green levies to general taxation.

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taxation. Yeah, exactly. But perhaps the most damning thing about this Budget is what it does not attempt to do. After seeing off Keir Starmer, this new Prime Minister wants to press the reset button to pretend this is a fresh start the first hundred days. But Labour owns the last two years. Labour owns the last two budgets and if the Prime Minister won't reverse their measures, then the consequences of the decisions that are already taken are his to own as well. The National Insurance rise has been devastating over the last 20 years I've been in the industry, says chef Tommy Banks.

This is without doubt the hardest time has ever been to operate. I'm seeing restaurant owners saying, we're

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closing tomorrow. We're going to make everybody redundant. Wow. He points to employer National Insurance, having increased his Insurance, having increased his business costs by 162% with a couple of hundred staff, he says couple of hundred staff, he says that can mean half £1 million. The Employment Rights Act has not even begun to have its full effect yet. begun to have its full effect yet. I spoke to a business, a small business, last week, Madam Deputy Speaker already having to shell out £8,000 to prepare for its £8,000 to prepare for its implementation, another being quoted £200,000 in legal fees to fight the tribunal.

Another is winding down its disability employment activities. It used to give opportunities to people with cognitive impairments who needed extra support. It will no longer take the risk. 170,000 jobs lost
14:23
Abena Oppong-Asare Portrait Ms Abena Oppong-Asare MP (Erith and Thamesmead, Labour)
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since 2024 by the OBR's reckoning. Another 215,000 jobs to go by the Another 215,000 jobs to go by the decade's end. Does this Budget do anything to stop this slow motion anything to stop this slow motion car crash? No review of the farm and family businesses, taxes that are crushing our food producers and entrepreneurs at a time when this entrepreneurs at a time when this nation needs the food security they provide. I recently spoke to a business in the same family since the 1850s. The owners cannot risk losing it on death and are now trying to offload it early at the expense of investment in the business itself.

That is not going to generate growth. Another private school closure last week in Lewiston, leaving parents and children in limbo because Labour refuses to review its envy driven tax on independent schools. The pressures on these businesses are flowing out into the wider economy. It is why everything is costing people more, more to go out for a meal, to have your hair done, to take a few days away with the kids, to buy the weekly shop. The Prime Minister now owns Keir Starmer's choices. The most damning part of the Budget was the difference between the Prime Minister's homely breathing space rhetoric and the hard reality that real household disposable income is falling this year and is lower every year.

Of the forecast, nearly £1,500 lower than forecast under the last conservative government. And what is everyone getting in return for all the extra tax? Better public services? Nope. The government is spending £124 billion a year on debt interest alone, up £14 billion since March and more than we spend on defence, policing and prisons combined. Are we at least building up a buffer to make ourselves more resilient? Madam Deputy Speaker No. The Chancellor has cut fiscal headroom to just £15 billion, the equivalent of barely three and a half days of public spending. It's even kicking defence spending to the long grass, so businesses are paying more tax, families are getting poorer, public services are not improving and the government is leaving the country dangerously exposed to the next economic shock.

There are only two sustainable ways out of this grow or cut spending. And on both, this government is found wanting. Last week, Ministers went the full. Vicky Pollard. When asked whether they would grip the welfare Budget. This Parliament. Yes, said the Chancellor. No, said the Treasury in number ten. As soon as possible, said the Prime Minister. No, eventually, concluded the Chancellor. Yeah, but no, but yeah, but no, his leader is making a fool of him. And what about growth? The Prime Minister's big idea is to reopen a debate about rejoining the EU. It's a debate that the Business Secretary doesn't want to have.

He says it creates uncertainty for business, something companies explicitly do not want. He's now trying to nuance his way out of it. But we know what he said a debate about free movement that his home Secretary does not want, a debate that will tie us to the slow growth lane and cost us for the privilege. Why do we have to pay the fees of EU students to access Made in Europe when our participation is in the EU's interests and the matter hasn't even been settled yet in the EU Parliament, the Prime Minister is weakening our hand to build a left wing coalition that will keep him in power.

If growth is the goal, why does the Prime Minister not pull the levers this government already has? Bringing down energy costs, making it easier to employ people, cutting tax, getting more people off welfare because those are the decisions that require real courage and the willingness to test a mandate that the Prime Minister fears that he lacks on his own benches and in the wider country, employers are not working people. There is no money. We fail to get public spending under control before crisis hit. Three Labour truths that run through this Budget, overseen by a Prime Minister more interested in the perception of being on people's side than the reality, offering a debate about a future he may not control over.

Tough decisions he could own today, if only he were to find the courage.

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He. A banner of promissory.

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He. A banner of promissory. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome last week's Budget and I welcome last week's Budget and its focus on giving families a bit of a breathing space. During the difficult period. Many people in my difficult period. Many people in my constituency welcome the £100 household energy payment this household energy payment this winter, alongside the reforms to Carer's Allowance and support for working families. As committee chair, I will want to focus my remarks on devolution, local government, our high streets, rough sleeping and housing delivery. I welcome the government's commitment to devolution and the publication of the fiscal devolution roadmap.

 However, we do need greater clarity on how these proposals will work in practice as powers are devolved, accountability, scrutiny and local capacity must keep pace. Devolution should not just simply be a move from decision making out of Whitehall. It must deliver better outcomes for the communities it's intended to serve. The committee will continue to scrutinise these reforms and how they are implemented on the ground. I also welcome the measures to support and revitalise our high streets, including expanded business rates, relief and support for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. High streets are more than economic activity.

They are the heart of community life, providing places where people meet work and access services. This is particularly relevant to the committee, who is currently undertaking an inquiry into revitalising our high streets and town centres, so we look forward to examining whether the measures are delivering the long term regeneration and economic resilience our communities need. The Budget must also be judged on whether it addresses the long term pressures facing local government. Councils continue to face significant pressures from send pressures to rise in demand for children's services, adult social care and housing support.

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14:28
Daisy Cooper Portrait Daisy Cooper MP (St Albans, Liberal Democrat)
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committee work has repeatedly highlighted concerns about sustainability of local government finance and the growing gap between what councils are expected to deliver and the resources available to them. A sustainable funding settlement remains essential if settlement remains essential if councils are to plan for the long term and invest in prevention, and term and invest in prevention, and deliver high quality services for residents across local government, housing and devolution. The common challenge is delivery communities need to see these committee commitments translated into tangible improvements in their daily lives. I strongly welcome the significant investment to tackle rough sleeping and help people off our streets.

I had the opportunity to attend the summit, but if we are serious about ending rough sleeping, we must address its causes as well as its consequences. That means looking again at issues the committee has repeatedly highlighted, including homelessness prevention. The five week wait for Universal Credit and the continued freeze in local housing allowance. Ahead of the Budget, I urged Ministers to reconsider the local housing allowance freeze and I'm disappointed that it remains in place. Charities have also warned that it could push hundreds and thousands of more people into poverty or deeper hardship, if ending rough sleeping is truly a national priority, we must ensure housing support keeps pace with the reality of rents and the pressures facing low income households.

The Budget rightly invests in support services, but lasting progress will require action on structural factors that push people into homelessness in the first place. Finally, I welcome the additional investment in social and affordable housing, including the 1.5 billion top up expected to support 10,000 additional homes. However, it is still vital to consider where these. Whether these measures alone translate into homes being built at the pace and scale needed. The OBR has warned that housing delivery is likely to be slower than previously forecasted, highlighting the challenges that remain. The question is now whether we have the ambition, but whether we can remove the barriers that prevent homes being built at the scale required, and our committee will continue to scrutinise.

Scrutinise what further action is needed to meet the government's House building ambitions and to ensure that, more generally, affordable homes are delivered. Overall, there is much in this Budget to welcome from support, with energy bills to investment in social housing, to renewed commitment to devolution. And this Budget sets out an ambitious agenda. But that ambition must be met by delivery. My committee will be scrutinising these commitments in terms of how they are implemented and whether they are delivering the real change for people in our communities we represent. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Now, before I call the Lib Dem spokesperson, I am going to put a five minute time limit on five minute time limit on backbenchers from immediately after she has spoken. Daisy Cooper thank

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you, Madam Deputy Speaker. growth. Budget, because only if we can

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Budget, because only if we can grow the economy can we cut people's taxes and cut people's bills. We Liberal Democrats have repeated our calls for a new growth repeated our calls for a new growth and defence partnership with Europe because growth through defence partnership like that would enable us in time to raise the income tax threshold to £15,000. If we can grow the economy, we can put more money in people's pockets. Madam Deputy Speaker, the government's cost of living package was too timid and not well targeted. The OBR is clear that living standards are not set to improve.

I'm really deeply disappointed that the energy proposal from the government is linked to the outdated council tax system. This does mean that between 800,000 and 1.4 million of the most vulnerable people on low incomes will not benefit from the £100 payment, whilst wealthier people who may have retired early and downsized will benefit and this could have been avoided. Madam Deputy Speaker, we have called several times on the government to use existing DWP and HMRC data to roll out an essential energy guarantee to slash the cost of the first chunk of essential energy, benefiting everybody and giving extra support to those who are most in need, like the disabled.

That is the most progressive way of supporting people with the cost of energy bills, and it is the most targeted way of doing it, and it is within the government's reach. I

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will. Of course, is aware that winter is very fast upon us, which is why the government had to design a the government had to design a scheme that can be delivered quickly. But will she also recognise the £100 million of additional support being given to local authorities to target those households that she there has households that she there has referenced, so that we can make sure that every household who is struggling financially this winter struggling financially this winter is given a little bit of support.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The government already has the data through DWP, which it uses to roll out the warm home discount, so that out the warm home discount, so that data is already there. The system exists with energy providers. It would have operated just as quickly. HMRC has the data and child benefit. It could be rolled out equally just as quickly. Yes, I recognise that some money has been given to local some money has been given to local authorities to roll this out, but that process will not act as quickly as the system that the quickly as the system that the government wanted to roll out in January, and this would have been done through the energy providers far more quickly than that, additional support.

So this would have been a more targeted, faster, more progressive way of rolling out help. We've been calling for it for six months. I think it's unfortunate that the government hasn't listened. Madam Deputy Speaker, in terms of businesses, of course, we welcome support that supports small businesses, and raising the small business threshold will support a number of businesses. But this is still tinkering around the edges. Rather than delivering the fundamental reform of business rates, which this government promised in its manifesto. If we are serious about breathing new life into our high streets, then we have got to reform the outdated broken business rate system.

In my constituency of St Albans, the rateable values are so high, only eight pubs are set to benefit from this support, and that comes in the face of a whole raft of measures. In the last two anti-growth budgets. The chair of my local St Albans pubs campaign has sent me this. He says the Budget does nothing to help or support most of the pubs in Saint Albans. Still no business rates reform alcohol duties up, no cuts in VAT, no cuts in the horrific employers National Insurance jobs tax and a huge increase in wages. This means one thing it will put up the price of a pint.

Madam Deputy Speaker Founders Relief has been described variously by people as described variously by people as bonkers, dreadful and a pointless lottery. It will benefit at most 600 people and will undermine productivity and growth. This is not exactly a ringing endorsement which I believe the government was after, so I encourage the after, so I encourage the government to look at this founders relief again
14:36
Patrick Hurley Portrait Patrick Hurley MP (Southport, Labour)
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On. title. The government's measures do not close the loopholes on property taxes. Madam Deputy Speaker, we need to see real reform of all of the outdated property taxes, council tax, stamp duty and business rates. But the government's so-called mansion tax is not the way to do it. All of this funding will go to Whitehall, it will not go to local councils. And this from a government which says it wants devolution at a time when it is ripping money out of local authorities. The OBR says there is a 2,020% chance of appeals. Well, just five weeks ago, Madam Deputy Speaker, I stood right here and challenged Ministers to contact the VOA because they had issued the wrong valuation to two of my small businesses.

I dread to think what will happen to many people who will be wanting to sell their house and move to other parts of the country, to support to support family members when they can't, because they're stuck in an 18 month appeal process with the VOA. And it's not clear that the government even has a definition of a working farm when it comes to the operation of the so-called mansion tax. This looks to me as though it could be Family Farm Tax 2.0, and I urge the government to look very closely at this. And for what, £400 million in three years time?

This is not going to sort out the cost of living crisis that we're facing right now. Madam Deputy Speaker, I am pleased that the government has shifted on bank taxes. We Liberal Democrats have long called for taxes on the big banks that have made eye watering profits, and to those on the official opposition benches, who say they are worried about the competitiveness of our financial services, let me tell them this under their botched Brexit deal, they have hammered the financial services.

They have been hit by a loss of jobs and a loss of business. If anybody is serious about protecting our world class
14:40
Neil Hudson Portrait Dr Neil Hudson MP (Epping Forest, Conservative)
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financial services, they should. They should support our calls to join the single market and to move join the single market and to move online fraud liability for it from banks to the big tech companies. If we could do that, we could grow our we could do that, we could grow our world beating financial services market and still increase the taxes further so they can contribute to further so they can contribute to the cost of living crisis. Finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, let me just Madam Deputy Speaker, let me just say that there is a role for optimism.

There is a role to talk about, real hope, and I hope that we can project to the rest of the world that we believe in the future of UK plc. But if we're going to talk about fresh hope, it must be matched with meaningful action. And I'm afraid to say that this Budget did not deliver the meaningful

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change that the country expects and deserves. Yes. Patrick Hurley.

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Deputy Speaker. I welcome. This Budget. And I congratulate. The Chancellor on bringing it

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The Chancellor on bringing it forward. At a time of considerable economic uncertainty, there's much in it that deserves support, and colleagues have spoken well over colleagues have spoken well over the past few days in that regard. But I want to use my contribution today to make a broader argument, one that concentrates on the interaction between business and trade and prosperity for the country. Because for me, the biggest economic challenge facing this country is the fact that we've become accustomed to an economy that doesn't grow quickly enough, doesn't invest enough, doesn't produce enough, and doesn't deliver rising living standards for enough of our people.

Worse than that, we've actually constructed an economic system that has learned to accommodate failure. Thanks to the long, dark years of Tory rule, this country has, in effect, institutionalised stagnation for much of the last 80 years, people in this country could have reasonably expected to have been better off than their parents. Productivity increased, wages rose, living standards, living standards improved. But since 2010, that's changed. The relationships broken down. Real earnings have barely grown by historical standards. Productivity growth has been desperately weak, and the prospect of building a better life has become increasingly remote for too many people.

We need to change it. Madam Deputy Speaker, First, I think we need to be clear about what we mean by growth. Our overriding economic objective
14:46
Preet Kaur Gill Portrait Preet Kaur Gill MP (Birmingham Edgbaston, Labour )
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should be sustained growth in GDP per Capita, driven by higher productivity, accompanied by rising productivity, accompanied by rising real wages and improving living standards. And we should judge our success not just by what happens in success not just by what happens in some sectors, like financial services or any other sector, but by what happens in places like my by what happens in places like my own Southport constituency, or Swindon, or Wigan, or Bristol or Swindon, or Wigan, or Bristol or Birkenhead. Second. We need to rebuild our productive capacity in this country. For decades, we've promoted consumption whilst allowing production to decline.

We've become dependent on importing the things we need exposed to volatile international energy markets, willing to see promising British innovations commercialised elsewhere. We need to change that too. We should be ambitious about advanced manufacturing, about clean energy, life sciences, digital technology, all of those industries of the future. I'd like to see us set ourselves a national mission to create a million additional jobs in production over the next decade, and that requires an industrial strategy with some proper oomph behind it, that proper oomph should be patient capital, affordable industrial energy skills provision designed around the needs of employers and public procurement that supports domestic domestic productive capacity.

It also requires a closer and more practical economic relationship with our European neighbours. The isolationist turn that this country has taken over the last decade needs to come to an end, not just for the benefit of our country, because it's harmed our trading partners too, and has benefited only those countries who want us to fail. We also need to reform the way the the. We also need to reform the way we govern the economy itself. I strongly support fiscal responsibility.

I believe in independent economic scrutiny, and I have no desire whatsoever to to return to the economic recklessness
14:51
David Simmonds Portrait David Simmonds MP (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Conservative)
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that did such damage in 2022. We should also recognise that fiscal responsibility should be a means to responsibility should be a means to an end rather than the end in itself. The purpose of sound public finances must be to enable a prosperous, productive and resilient population. But that isn't what we've ended up with. Too much of our economic policy making currently is dominated by what happens over a relatively short happens over a relatively short period investment that costs money today, but only delivers in 20 or 30 years. Time can appear less attractive. And so we've become trapped in a vicious circle.

Weak growth reduces tax revenues, weak tax revenues, constrain restraint, constrain investment. Insufficient investment weakens productivity, and weak productivity leads to weak growth. We need to break that. That circle. The way. We need to break that circle. Madam Deputy Speaker, Madam Deputy Speaker, is to look at how our fiscal and monetary policies are implemented, and I would encourage Ministers to review those policies in order to ensure that the future of this country is prosperous. Thank you.

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Doctor Neil Hudson. Thank you. Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, the theme of this year's autumn Budget was of this year's autumn Budget was said to be one of hope. It raised our hopes akin to the title of a Star Wars film. Yet for many of my constituents in Epping Forest, and indeed for families and businesses across the country, that hope has been sorely dashed. I have huge respect for the Chancellor, who is a deeply honourable man who resigned as defence Secretary, calling for 3% of GDP on defence spending by 2030. But sadly, even his hopes for this clear commitment and plan have been dashed by this government.

Now in Epping Forest, we are fortunate to have fantastic local businesses, restaurants, cafes and pubs, yet many are struggling to stay afloat under this Labour government. It is deeply regrettable that this Budget did not take up sensible proposals
14:56
Derek Twigg Portrait Derek Twigg MP (Widnes and Halewood, Labour)
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from the Conservatives. Scrapping the family farm tax and family business tax in full, abolishing business tax in full, abolishing inheritance tax on family homes and scrapping business rates for scrapping business rates for 250,000 businesses nationwide. Yeah. Now, one thing my constituents in Epping Forest will note was the Epping Forest will note was the Chancellor's talk of a British data centre covenant. Many of my constituents are rightly concerned constituents are rightly concerned about the implications and environmental impacts of AI data centres, including the proposal in Loughton, with major concerns about the huge water and energy usage and a speculative and completely inappropriate proposal is being worked up for a data centre near Chigwell that will threaten our precious greenbelt.

Many of my constituents have reached out to me, alarmed by this Chigwell proposal, and that it comes in the context of a Labour government that has outrageously taken away large planning decisions from Epping Forest District Council and is arbitrarily and spuriously moving to reclassify greenbelt as grey belt to achieve the development targets. We have seen this too, with inappropriate large scale housing developments being proposed on greenbelt in Faden, Boys around Epping, and for solar developments on farmland between Thorndon, Thornwood and Epping Upland. I urge the Labour government to do the right thing. Listen to my Epping Forest constituents, leave our greenbelt alone and pull the plug on these damaging top down policies

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and inappropriate developments. The hon. Gentleman gave way. I will give way. Madam Deputy Speaker, I cannot

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Madam Deputy Speaker, I cannot resist the opportunity to say I wholeheartedly agree with with what my hon. Friend is saying. When it my hon. Friend is saying. When it comes to greenbelt protections, the government has an opportunity to stop this reckless, top down approach and be serious about brownfield first funding, put the money into the brownfield first, money into the brownfield first, and please protect and save our special and precious green spaces. Does he agree?

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I thank my right hon. Friend for that intervention. I completely agree with her, and she's a proud agree with her, and she's a proud champion for her area and actually standing up for the greenbelt and actually putting pressure on the government to do the right thing government to do the right thing and go for brownfield first and leave our greenbelt alone. Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Prime Madam Deputy Speaker, the Prime Minister is a good man, and I really welcomed his stated ambition really welcomed his stated ambition to work cross-party to address the long standing challenges in social care, drawing on his own family's sad experience, I agree wholeheartedly with him that no one should be forced to sell their home to fund essential care.

But that hope, too, was dashed when it became that the Prime Minister is prejudging the Casey Report and his plans will not cover care residential costs. The very reason people have to sell their homes. By failing to address this core issue, the government has missed the very point it is trying to confront now, turning from care to health. Many of my constituents will be dismayed to learn that our local hospitals, Whipps Cross and Princess Alexandra, will still be waiting until at least 2032 for any rebuild. This is despite Labour's promise during the 2024 general election that both hospitals would be rebuilt.

Now the government has spent much time talking of devolution and powers, but my constituents need them to start by working with powers that already exist, like with their relationship with the mayor of London for far too long. The central line that my constituents rely on has been plagued by unacceptable delays, overcrowding, unbearable heat in the summer months, ear scraping, rail noise levels and ugly graffiti akin to something out of Gotham City. The new refurbished trains that have been promised are arriving extremely slowly indeed, and the services on the Epping Line and the Chigwell branch remain unacceptable.

 Madam Deputy Speaker In Waltham Abbey, over 3000 of my constituents signed the Bring Back Red buses Waltham Abbey campaign petition urging transport for London's cuts to local bus services to areas to be reversed, and this has been made worse recently by bus services now ending early on weekdays, when they already have no tube or train services that serve our Waltham Abbey area. The government cannot sit on the sidelines and spectate this situation. It has to be a player and push both TfL and Essex County Council to step up. Madam Deputy Speaker, this was a Budget of missed opportunities and if the government is serious about hope.

Please, please give us some hope and actually do something on these vital issues.

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Preet Kaur Gill thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Fresh hope for the future must. Mean something people can recognise Mean something people can recognise in their own A young person finding a skilled job close to home, a patient getting a die sooner and a patient getting a die sooner and someone waiting for an operation, finally getting treatment and getting back to their life. That is getting back to their life. That is how people will judge us. So I welcome this budget's determination to give families breathing space now while building a stronger now while building a stronger economy for tomorrow.

But I want to focus on one opportunity that can help us achieve both backing life sciences so that Britain can build a future here. Developing new treatments, manufacturing them in Britain and getting them to NHS patients faster because a healthier country is a stronger country. And for the industries that help us live healthier lives, they can also create the jobs, investment and prosperity that our communities need. Madam Deputy Speaker, I began working as a care assistant at 16. I became a social worker, working in child protection, and served as Cabinet member for public health and protection.

And those experiences taught me that public services are judged at the moment. Someone needs them. Can they get help? Are they listened to? Does someone take responsibility? And as a health Minister, I brought that same test to innovation. A scientific breakthrough is an extraordinary achievement. Approval matters, but success is a patient receiving treatment, and our ambition should be clear. Discover here, make it here and deliver it and deliver here. And this Budget gives us something substantial to build on. I welcome the 100 million investment in robotic surgery, supporting the ambition to increase procedures from 70,000 a year today to half a million by 2035.

For a patient, that could mean a less invasive operation, shorter stay in hospital and getting home to their family sooner. I also welcome the life sciences investment in Manchester, Oxford and Loughborough together worth more than £1 billion, supported by almost 70 million in government and grants. And these investments should give businesses confidence to build in Britain and patients confidence that progress will reach them. The next task is to make that partnership work across the country, and to connect investment with improvements that people can feel. Birmingham's Life Sciences District shows what is possible when we bring our strengths together.

The University of Birmingham, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham Health Partners connect world class research with front line care, our health Innovation Campus and Precision Health Technologies Accelerator help businesses turn discoveries into treatments, and we should back this district as an engine of national growth, attracting investment, expanding manufacturing and opening routes into skilled jobs for local people. This is an enormous opportunity for our city to know that there could be a place for young people in my city as a laboratory technician, an engineer, a clinical researcher and manufacturing apprentice, or a specialist working with a help with health data.

And the University of Birmingham is here today in Parliament, launching the Birmingham Health and Life Sciences Quarter. So as the government develops its ten year plan and prepares for the next spending review, three things should guide us. First, make the adoption of proven innovation a core NHS responsibility. Because businesses need a clear route, innovators need a clear route from successful evaluation to everyday use, with named responsibility funding and a timetable. And for a small British business, a successful NHS trial should actually open a door. They should not have to go begging every single trust to procure their product.

We should measure success through patient outcomes and that same discipline should apply to AI. So I welcome the budgets review of NHS productivity and AI. Its purpose should be practical, better care, less avoidable administration and more time with patients. And secondly, connect life sciences investment to British manufacturing and local opportunity. And thirdly, make prevention and earlier diagnosis central to our ambition. Because the greatest gain is often the illness avoided. Madam Deputy Speaker, this is a serious economic opportunity. Better health can help people remain in work, support families and reduce pressure on public services. Successful British businesses can bring investment exports and skilled employment.

The Prime Minister has opened a conversation about the country we want to become. My answer is a Britain confident enough to back its scientists, ambitious enough to build new industries and determined enough to put their achievements into the hands of the people who need them. A Britain where a discovery becomes a treatment and an investment becomes a skilled job, and a young person can see a future in the place that they call home. That is what fresh hope for the

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future must mean. Thank you David Simmonds. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Budget debate is an opportunity, The Budget debate is an opportunity, of course, both to consider the national and the local impact of what's been announced. And it's very clear that this is a centralising Budget, is a tax and spend Budget doesn't even raise the tax necessary to cover the spending commitments that are being made. And when we look at the impact And when we look at the impact across the economy, what is very clear, the routes out of poverty, the opportunity to find a job, something that is good for your wellbeing, it's good for your mental and physical health as well as your financial health.

There's been a surge in unemployment under this Labour government. It's the worst graduates job market that's existed since records began, and those in my party who will have been proud of the fact that, on average, 800 new jobs were created for every day that government was in office, that youth unemployment was halved by the time we left government. We'll look at the long term impact, particularly on younger people and their life chances that are the consequences of that. With nothing whatsoever in this Budget to address that except more tax and spend on productivity, to represent a constituency as I do, which has lower than London average incomes, but where prosperity and employment is high, and see a Budget that does nothing to address the cliff edges in the tax system, the loss of child benefit when people become a high rate taxpayer, the loss of access to tax free childcare, the impact of rising pension contributions and the withdrawal of personal allowances that, particularly amongst the most productive public sector professionals, is having a huge impact not just on their incomes, but also on their ability to contribute to the service improvements that we all need to see.

And then when we look at our
15:01
Jamie Stone Portrait Jamie Stone MP (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Liberal Democrat)
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housing market and we all understand that, we want to see that as an engine of opportunity that as an engine of opportunity and growth. But all of the measures introduced by this government are making it harder to move house. making it harder to move house. They're making it harder to rent a home, and they're making it harder home, and they're making it harder to build. With two thirds of London's boroughs in one of the most economically vibrant cities in most economically vibrant cities in the world, reporting net zero additional new homes from the start of this year.

And at the same time, local authorities like the excellent conservative council that serves some of my constituents in Harrow, have put in £300 million bid of shovel ready housing projects ready to go to the GLA, funded by Mhclg, to receive an allocation of precisely zero towards the delivery of any of those new homes that are ready to go. Small wonder that the Secretary of State has been so clear that this government will not meet even its own housing targets, and the Member for Erith and Thamesmead, who is no longer in her place, made reference to the issue of rough sleeping.

And I'm glad that the government is making this a priority because they certainly need to. Saint Mungo's have reported a 27% rise in street homelessness since this government took office, something that is on them that they own, and it is right that they need to clear up their own mess. And that is a description which would apply to the measures announced on business rates as well. Having promised hospitality and retail a new permanently lower regime of business rates, only to impose massive increases which have driven business driven employment off our high streets. It is good that they are beginning to recognise the negative impact on our high streets that their policies have had, but they should at least have the humility to recognise that it is the consequences of their own decisions that have created that problem, and there is nobody else to blame in respect of this.

So, Madam Deputy Speaker, when we look at this Budget, there are so many clear headlines for the implications that it has. The increase in the benefits bill under this government is bigger than the entire defence Budget. At a time when this country faces an incredibly uncertain world, the verdict of savers, of investors, of both the domestic and the international market is clear because borrowing costs for 30 and ten year gilts have hit record highs. There is no period in recent history where there has been so little confidence in the ability of a government to manage the finances of the country effectively, and when this government talks about the impact in every postcode in my constituency from half to UB nine, what they see themselves left with is unbuilt planning permissions granted in their green belt, deteriorating and reduced public services, and a government which is taking away the opportunities to make life through their own efforts better for themselves and their families.

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Derek Twigg thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Without doubt, the greatest concern for most of my greatest concern for most of my constituents is the cost of living, in particular the cost of energy, with the biggest factors currently driving up the costs of the Ukraine driving up the costs of the Ukraine war. And of course, now President Trump's ill conceived and quite frankly, stupid decision to go to frankly, stupid decision to go to war with Iran. It is just not credible that this government, in the current financial climate can the current financial climate can put right in just over two years, 14 years of Tory mismanagement of the economy and the impact of these two wars.

I think it's also very worrying that we have a generation of young people now who feel they'll be worse off than their parents, and clearly, it's shocking that we have a million young people not in education, employment or training. I welcome many of the measures introduced by the Chancellor in the Budget, in particular the breathing space scheme, which were households in bands, will get £100 payment directly into their bank account this winter to help deal with rising energy bills. It is good that the Budget supports households with the rising cost of energy bills by extending the temporary 0% rate of VAT and electricity until 2027, and capping new levies on energy bills at 0% until 2030.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, so I welcome that in the Budget. We're taking more businesses out of the paying business rates by increasing increasing small business rates, relief thresholds for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. Likewise, I support removing eligible eligibility for vape shops, adult gaming centres to help our high streets to become vibrant places once more, supporting independent businesses and creating town centres where people want to live. In this regard, I. I initiated a on town centres and high streets and new town centre plan for Widnes with Halton Borough Council to help regenerate our town centre as the money becomes available.

So I was pleased that the government allocated 1.24 million to renovate direct derelict buildings and when added to the pride in place, the Witness Pride in Place town centre impact fund of 1.5 allocated last year. This can help kick start some of the improvements we want to see in Widnes town centre, and I look forward to working with Halton Council on that. I'm also pleased that Knowsley has been allocated. Knowsley Council allocated 1.55 million and I look forward to discussions with Knowsley Council how that will be used. I, I, I won't give them the time.

I also look forward to hearing more from the Chancellor about the fiscal devolution roadmap revolving, reforming the long term funding model for regional and local government. This is the potential, over time, to make a real difference to the economic performance on many of our cities and towns outside of London. I do want now just to refer to the issue around defence spending. It is the case that we have had the biggest increase in defence spending since the Cold War. It's also true that we face the biggest threat since the Cold War. I am pleased that the Chancellor has announced that he's fully funding the Defence Investment Plan and a target date of 3% of GDP by 2030.

However, I think we need to see the plan for reaching that target sooner rather than later. It remains my view that threats are escalating. We need to be spending 3% before the end of this Parliament. The previous Tory government hollowed out and grossly underfunded our armed forces, and they left our armed forces in a truly shocking state. The smallest army since the Napoleonic Wars missed every single recruitment target. Our equipment programme was in disarray over Budget and behind schedule or both. They did have the cheek to try to erase their woeful record on defence. This government is working hard to try and ensure our armed forces are ready for war, but there's more to do.

I just want to briefly, Madam Deputy Speaker, first of all, I declare an interest as chair of the all party motoring group, and I have both the Jaguar Land Rover plants and four plants in my constituency. I want to refer to the recent consultation, which closed on the 23rd of October 2026, regarding the zero emissions vehicle mandate, Zev and they. The. Both Ford and JLR want Ministers to publish their response and clarify the mandates direction ahead of the 2027 compliance year. Early clarity will help manufacturers plan, sustain investment and support ambitious delivery transition, Ford tells me.

They're committed to a truly electrified, electrified future, but the transition must reflect customer need, charging infrastructure and vehicle user needs. There are specific challenges, especially around vans. Finally, last two points I want to make. Madam Deputy Speaker, we have big challenges ahead in bringing down deaths and the cost of welfare. It will take some tough decisions and challenging work, but it has to be done. We must have a credible long term plan. We cannot just pick an arbitrary figure out of the air to save on welfare. We need a proper thought out strategy, which will be informed by the Milburn and Tim's reviews.

And my final point is productivity. Again, this remains a real challenge in the economy. We need to deal with the lack of capital investment in order to make sure that we have sustained sustained growth in our economy.

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Jamie Stone. Thank you very much, Madam

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Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker and representing the furthest away constituency in the British mainland, you can imagine British mainland, you can imagine that the words growth in every postcode would interest me hugely. postcode would interest me hugely. And in thinking about my contribution today, I thought about perhaps I would talk about the lack perhaps I would talk about the lack of affordable housing or efforts to promote employment opportunities for the young. But I did something last week which made me think. Now, as some colleagues know, in this place, my wife is disabled and that's not what I'm on my feet to talk about.

She's a brave lady and she puts up with it and it's all great, but I thought it would be kind to order her a fireside chair, and I found online one at a very good price reduced. Called a Jubilee Fireside chair in the colour mineral, and I. It was actually the first one that came up when you googled fireside chair for disabled, so I, I hit it and here it was and I, I thought, yes, we'll have that and free delivery. Great. And yet when I came to look more closely at what the amount of money was, they did added on £50 because of my postcode.

So I went back and in very small print under free delivery it says perhaps not everywhere. Now I personally think I can afford that, but there are lots of people out there who can't afford an extra £50 when they want to buy something for somebody they love. And so I, in preparing yesterday, I remembered what happened. This is only last week. And I thought, right, let's have a little look at the various postcodes. And I worked my way down in Scotland. First of all, I looked at Orkney £50, I looked at Wick £50 and I kept on coming down and down and down and got as far as Perth £50.

So I went east and went to Saint Andrews free delivery. So I thought then I would look at Land's End in my, my, my good colleagues constituency. No, you get charged £50 for Land's End. So then there was a little bit of good news. I looked at the constituency of my good friend, my very good friend, the hon. Member for the Western Isles. Stornoway. You get it free in in Castlebay, in Barra, down the bottom. Here it is. You get your chair for the disabled, your fireside chair in mineral colour, whatever mineral is, I think it's green delivered free.

Now, I don't begrudge the hon. Member for the Western Isles. Jolly good luck to him. I'm very pleased he can. And then out of devilment I googled, I put in EH991SP the Scottish Parliament and guess what? John Swinney gets it delivered free. But this is. My point is that we have these these extra charges we have to pay in the remotest parts of of the UK. And it has been going on for years. I spoke back in in December 2017, I was first elected to this place in a debate about this issue. And and yet we still have the problem today.

It is, I would suggest, iniquitous and completely unfair extra tax on people who really can't afford to pay these extra charges. And it is not in the spirit of fairness, one little bit. I have had reception, good reception from Ministers in the previous government, but I'm bound to say at the end of the day
15:06
Rosena Allin-Khan Portrait Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP (Tooting, Labour)
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it was fine words or as we say in the Highlands, tea and sympathy. Now I don't expect an instant Now I don't expect an instant answer from the government on this. There's so many demands of things that should be put right, but I that should be put right, but I would respectfully add these iniquitous extra charges to the list. And put it this way I would list. And put it this way I would be very, very, very, very happy on behalf of all these people who pay these extra charges to sit down these extra charges to sit down with a relevant Minister and outline the problem in detail and help think of how we can sort it out.

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The hon. Friend. I will give way. Extremely grateful to him for giving way. I'm so pleased he's giving way. I'm so pleased he's back on his feet, but I think what he is raising is a really important he is raising is a really important point about a potential blind spot in the government's eyes. In terms of rurality, there was an excellent report released recently from Policy Exchange looking at the effect of Rurality on access to effect of Rurality on access to health care in England. Would he agree with me that actually, if we design services around the most

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hardest to reach, that helps the most unequal society parts of society, everywhere? Hey.

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Hey. I thank my hon. Friend for intervention. Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm not going to string this out I'm not going to string this out any longer. I think I've made my point. The point is that if we want growth in every postcode, including some of the remotest parts of the UK, I think that we should tackle UK, I think that we should tackle an issue which says really that some people, simply because of where they live, are having to pay extra charges. And there's a knock on effect of all this for everything else you buy.

Or do I rest my case? Madam Deputy Speaker

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Thank you. Rosena Allin-Khan thank you very much.

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Deputy Speaker. This Budget contains much that people across Tooting, Balham and Earlsfield will Tooting, Balham and Earlsfield will truly welcome in the months beforehand, people in our communities gave me clear criteria communities gave me clear criteria for a Budget, one that recognises the poly crisis we are in by giving them breathing space in the cost of living crisis and easing the living crisis and easing the burdens of the cost of business. To my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has delivered that and more. That is why local people have told me that they welcome the £100 household energy payments and the business rates package, which will mean that retail, hospitality and leisure properties in Tooting will see their business rates either frozen in real terms, reduced or cut to zero.

That's over 70,000 additional high street businesses taken out of business rates. Altogether. This Budget rightly recognises that high streets are the heartbeat of our local communities and the foundation of our collective identity, and I have seen locally with our bustling town centres, the Prime Minister has made good growth in every postcode. The North Star of his government. He is talking about postcodes across our capital, not just S1, but also E13, not just N1 but also S W17. A vibrant array of neighbourhoods, each with its distinctive history, character, community and unique personality. Madam Deputy Speaker, despite everything its opponents throw at us online, this is what makes London the best city in the world.

 We have people from all around the world, from the US to Russia, trying to divide our communities, trying to break our collective cohesiveness. The thing that makes us proud to be British and we will never, ever let them achieve that. But we do know that there is more to do, particularly on London's failing housing market. That's why the government is rightly taking action on the Renters Act and the government's commitment to work with our mayors and councils to deliver more council homes as temperatures drop, the immediate priority must now be to truly end rough sleeping.

When people see their fellow citizens sleeping rough, it offends their sense of a fair society. I know that when I'm doing my shifts in Saint George's Hospital, and I see people who are homeless coming through our doors, it breaks my heart and that of every nurse, doctor, receptionist, any healthcare provider that has to look after them. We have the most incredible homelessness inclusion team at Saint George's, but truly it is a scourge on modern British society that we even have people that are homeless and rough sleeping. A public health emergency is also a moral catastrophe, so tweaking will never be enough.

And the Prime Minister and Chancellor's commitment to doubling spending on ending rough sleeping to almost £900 million is a signal of this government's values of compassion, dignity and decency. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, that's the difference a Labour government makes here every day. The country and our capital are turning around the trajectory of industrial decline and putting fresh hope in every heart. Thank you.
15:09
Nigel Huddleston Portrait Nigel Huddleston MP (Droitwich and Evesham, Conservative)
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Here. >> Nigel Huddleston thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. >> Two years. >> Ago, when I. >> Was the shadow Financial

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Was the shadow Financial Secretary of the Treasury, I labelled the then New Labour government's first Budget as the government's first Budget as the most anti-business Budget this country has ever had. And I said that the then Chancellor will go down in history as the destroyer of jobs. 225,000 job losses later. I'm sad to say I was right and I take no joy in doing so, Madam Deputy Speaker, because it's my constituents and our constituents across the country who have paid the price. When Labour increased national insurance on jobs, they knew it would increase unemployment.

When they increased business rates, they knew it would increase unemployment. When they introduced the Farcically named employment bill, they knew it would increase unemployment. This country has paid a high price for Labour dogma, but two years on, with a new Chancellor and a new Prime Minister, they had a golden opportunity to turn things around. But they haven't. This Budget has not backed Britain, it has not backed British business. And despite all the noise and all the promises of hope, the precise theme for today's debate, there is very little to be positive, never mind about hopeful about in this Budget.

It is just more debt, more taxes and more unemployment. And vital decisions on welfare and defence spending have been kicked into the long grass. Dithering comes at a cost, and the Chancellor included the phrase breathing space in the title of his Budget, and he mentioned it 13 times during his speech. That meant breathing space for the government, not for my constituents. And speaking of my constituents, the Chancellor also said that this Budget would unlock growth in every postcode. Really not in WR9WR11WR12, not in Worcestershire. There were, however, loads of new promises, lots of new spending, lots of new powers for cities and mayoral authorities.

But sadly, as always, rural communities like mine in Worcestershire were ignored yet again. Labour could not make their disdain for rural communities any clearer. And Madam Deputy Speaker, what I find particularly grating were the constant references in the Budget to the supposed generosity of this Labour government. Well, it's very easy to be generous with other people's money. And there are also comments by the Chancellor talking about difficult decisions the government is making. Well, what a load of nonsense. Putting up taxes, dipping into other people's pockets is not a difficult decision. That's the easiest and laziest thing for any government to do.

The difficult thing is restraining spending and cutting taxes. When, oh, when is this government going to recognise that there is no such thing as government money? It is taxpayers money, and they need to show the same level of respect for that taxpayers hard earned cash as they themselves do when they're making decisions on spending on their own household budgets, but they can't even bother to tackle the out of control welfare spending, which will rise another £19 billion this year to £353 billion, almost the identical sum raised by all income tax. The situation is farcical and on defence spending again, as I kicked into the long grass, the Chancellor did not announce defence spending.

What he actually said was he would set a target date for 3% in 2030, a target date. That is not a policy, that is not a commitment. It's just noise. And Britain, bizarrely, at the same time, Britain will end up with the highest tax burden in our history. The tax burden is forecast to increase to 37.9% of GDP next year and continue to rise, then to 2030 132. And the Labour answer is yes. More taxes. The Budget confirmed a new tax on the tourism industry. Only the bizarre mindset of a Labour Minister can believe that the way you help an industry is by imposing more taxes on it.

But as often said, if socialists understood economics. Madam Deputy Speaker there are so many, there are so many. There are so many things in this Budget that, in terms of missed opportunities, retail, hospitality and leisure were crying out for support. And as my hon. Friend mentioned, we had proposals which we would have been happy for the Labour Party to copy. That would have taken 250,000 businesses out of paying business rates altogether permanently. Their solution was to take 70,000 businesses out temporarily and only basically giving back a fraction of what they had already taken away.

Madam Deputy Speaker, as I said, this was a Budget of missed opportunities, and what alarms me most is the inability to labour to recognise the damage they have already done, because that means they don't know how to get out of it. There is an alternative, Madam Deputy Speaker, a pro-business, conservative alternative. Bring on the election, because we're looking forward to implementing that at the soonest opportunity.
15:14
Olivia Bailey Portrait Olivia Bailey MP (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)
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Olivia Bailey thank you very >> Olivia Bailey thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome the measures in this Budget that will give my constituents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire some Reading West and Mid Berkshire some much needed breathing space as they look ahead to the winter, the £100 payment towards energy bills, the payment towards energy bills, the scrapping of gas standing charges and the extension of 0% VAT on electricity bills will all make a difference. My constituency at this precious time. I also welcome measures to support small businesses like the fantastic Elysium that I visited last week and our brilliant local pubs, our brilliant local brewers like Renegade and Double Barrelled.

But I want to speak today in my capacity as chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee. Considering those facing discrimination and disadvantage are often most exposed to financial pressures, I must start by saying that the Budget measures to support people with the cost of living are particularly welcome. I also welcome the funding to tackle misogyny announced in the Budget and the government's ambition in this area. In the Women and Equalities Inquiry into the manosphere, we have heard alarming evidence about online misogyny fuelling harm, and we have been left in no doubt that if we are to meet the government's ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, then we must urgently focus our attention and our resources on prevention.

£15 million over three years is a welcome start, but compare that with the vast profits being generated by the platforms and industries through which misogyny and hate are amplified. Madam Deputy Speaker, we are being outmatched. And as misogyny continues to plague our society, we must rise to the challenge. The Budget also contains some welcome measures for parents and carers. I welcome the changes to the Carer's Allowance to remove the cliff edge. We cannot keep telling carers, the majority of whom are women, that we want them to participate in the workforce while maintaining a system that penalises them for trying to do so.

Although, Madam Deputy Speaker, I do note that these changes will not be in force until 2030 31 and I would welcome additional commitments from the government to support carers. In the meantime, I also welcome the paid paternity leave for self-employed fathers and other parents announced in the Budget as an important first step towards the wider parental reform, that we need parental leave reform that we need. Although it is regrettable that this gap in the system will not be filled until 2029, the Women and Equalities Committee has been clear. We need a pathway towards six weeks of paid paternity leave and a simpler, fairer, more gender equal parental leave system.

The 18 month period of the government's parental leave review will soon be up, and we hope and expect to see that pathway laid out. Madam Deputy Speaker, one of the biggest barriers to equal participation in the workforce remains access to affordable childcare. So I was a little disappointed that childcare measures were not included in the Budget this year. It is a huge achievement of this government that we have overseen a record expansion of funded childcare, something that I was very proud to work on as Minister. But too many lower income parents are unable to access the support they need to re-enter work or work longer hours.

The government already funded effectively funds around 80% of childcare delivered in this country. We have, in effect, Madam Deputy Speaker, already created a new public service, so it's time we reformed our complex system to reflect that reality and make universal childcare a centrepiece

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of this government's ten year plan. Yeah. Madam Deputy Speaker, these are not peripheral issues. These are not peripheral issues. These are fundamental barriers to economic growth. According to the Women's Budget Group, women's equal participation in the workforce could be worth £113 billion to our economy. And that's before we economy. And that's before we consider the enormous figures we could unlock through improving employment opportunities for disabled people and other groups disabled people and other groups who face barriers to work, which, Madam Deputy Speaker, brings me to my final point. If we truly want to tackle inequality, we must have a conversation in this place about the barriers that prevent people from working, from earning and from securing a better life for themselves and their families.

And that means a proper conversation about welfare reform. The current system is both fiscally unsustainable and deeply unfair to the people it traps in a cycle of inactivity. So I am looking forward to the final reports of the Milburn Review and the Tims review, and to the government setting out concrete proposals in this area. But I am also clear that in that necessary conversation about welfare reform, we must also talk about the wider barriers to employment, the support for carers, the role of parental leave and, above all, access to universal childcare. Collins thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Britain needed a much bolder Budget for growth, one for families, businesses and to boost our economy for families, heating or now even cooling our homes, getting around and feeding the family are all
15:20
Victoria Collins Portrait Victoria Collins MP (Harpenden and Berkhamsted, Liberal Democrat)
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costs that continue to rise. The energy price cap is set to rise again in January, and the one and again in January, and the one and 1.4 million low income households in higher council tax bands will miss out under this Budget. Our Lib Dem essential energy guarantee, however, would take £100 off the average bill for everyone paid for average bill for everyone paid for by clawing back excess profits made by monopoly energy operators. We'd also cut rail fares by 10%, bus fares to £1 and fuel duty by £0.10, paid for by the Treasury's fuel price windfall for businesses for most rent rates, energy and hiring is going up and DJ's play zone.

And in my local area, Mark says his rates bills have gone up by 52%, from 21,000 to £32,000 a year, on top of National insurance, jobs, tax and rising wages. He's a small business in a big building, so small business relief never reaches him. And the Chancellor's new £18,000 threshold changes nothing

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for him and so many other businesses that slip under the net. On that point. Yes. I'm waiting for my hon. Friend

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I'm waiting for my hon. Friend for giving way. She mentioned that my hon. Friend mentioned an example my hon. Friend mentioned an example of an indoor play centre where the business rates are going up. Is she concerned, like I am, that this winter those increases were simply

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winter those increases were simply priced children out of play altogether? Absolutely. And this is why we need that wholesale reform, looking need that wholesale reform, looking at how we're supporting those businesses who need it and the broken business rate system. And we also see Charlotte from Berkhamsted Bookshop tells me the average independent bookshop will need to sell over 1000 more books a year just to cover rising costs. And Christopher, who runs a small martial arts academy in Tring, tells me rising rent and service charges threaten his future with almost no protection for small commercial tenants.

As Liberal Democrats, we have repeatedly called to do more to help our local businesses, including replacing business rates with a commercial landowner levy and cutting VAT on

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hospitality by £0.05 point. Yes, absolutely. I'm very grateful to him for

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I'm very grateful to him for giving way. Will she agree with my constituent, Philippe Massey, who was hoping runs the excellent was hoping runs the excellent little wine shop in Taunton? He was hoping to see a really big move on VAT. Instead, he's described the VAT. Instead, he's described the Budget as a souffle that didn't rise flat, flat, flat.

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I think I couldn't put it better myself, and on top of that is the cost of hiring. There's been mentioned again and again the government have to tackle this for businesses. And Madam Deputy Speaker, if we truly want fresh hope for the future, for our wider economy, we need bold action. Supporting our entrepreneurs is key. And as Lib Dems who have pushed for a type of young entrepreneurs allowance for almost a decade, but pleased to see this proposal and look forward to hearing more details. I'd also push the government to look at further work to support start ups and scale ups, including reviewing Essex and SIS and tax credits and relief that actually work for businesses.

And when it comes to that founders Relief, I'd ask the government to work with the industry to make sure it works. One founder said to me they felt they had to stand on one leg and turn around for enough time. They might just about get close to getting some of that founders relief when it comes to insulin devising innovation, the government must take spin outs from our world leading universities across the UK more seriously. We're calling for the government to quintuple proof of concept funding, create regional innovation centres and introduce standardised frameworks for negotiating intellectual property across the sector.

As regards innovation spending the extra £120 billion for the sovereign AI fund pales in comparison to nearly £8 billion of active contracts with US tech giants and the billions spent on procurement. So we call for a proper digital sovereign strategy to back our British business and look at increasing R&D spending so we don't have to make decisions over, for example, Jodrell Bank and how that is impacting innovation. Finally, we need a bold plan on Europe. We're calling for a growth and defence partnership with Europe, rejoining the single market and customs union. Not only can we tuck taxes for families with that growth dividend, but inject real growth into our economy for families, businesses and our future.
15:24
Tim Roca Portrait Tim Roca MP (Macclesfield, Labour)
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I call Tim Roca. And though the Secretary of State is no longer in the chamber, I just want to start by saying thank you to him and for colleagues in his to him and for colleagues in his department for the work he's doing with myself and other local MPs in securing the long term future of Jodrell Bank. We're very proud to Jodrell Bank. We're very proud to have in our constituency, and we're grateful for the work he's doing. I want to start, as many colleagues have, by welcoming the Budget. Businesses need certainty and stability in order to invest, and I welcome the prudent and targeted decisions, particularly around cost of living, that other members have touched on this afternoon and absorbing some of these costs in a moderate reduction in the fiscal headroom that was set out by the Chancellor, is a sensible way to go and creates the stability that helps maintain business confidence rather than undermine it.

And Britain has proved extraordinarily resilient in recent months to the shocks caused by the conflict in the Middle East, a war which other colleagues have pointed out was recklessly supported by conservative and reform members opposite. But despite oil prices remaining above $100 a barrel in Britain, growth has been better than expected because of stability from this government, because of measures in previous budgets and particularly in this Budget, there is now renewed hope for the future, and that hope should be a cause for optimism and provide a check on the constant doom and gloom that we often hear.

A reminder that official forecasts are not destiny, but they are a target to beat. In the last year, we've gone from the Leader of the Opposition saying we might need an IMF bailout to the IMF saying that we have the best deficit reduction plan in the G7. We have in the last two years, consistently performed better than the forecasts. In March 2025, the OBR forecast 1% growth. We grew 1.4% in April this year, the IMF forecast 0.8% growth. We hit nought .1.2 in the first half alone, and even after upgrading their original forecast, they were still behind the curve.

Forecasts are not destiny. Optimism is warranted, and sometimes it does seem, Madam Speaker, that the parties opposite almost want to want Britain to need a bailout. They almost will. The debt to rise or growth to slow or inflation to be higher for their own narrow partisan self-interest. To paint the worst possible picture they can. But the reality is that we should be talking Britain up, not talking it down. This is a great country to live in, to do business in and to invest in. And I say clearly, particularly to the party opposite, believe in Britain or Britain will not believe in you.

So I welcome the pro growth pro industrialisation policies in this Budget and in particular, plans to devolve power and funding so that Macclesfield Chesterfield in every town can invest in the things that matter to them. Plans to dissolve business rates that will empower local communities to benefit from the growth they work hard to generate. And devolution of income tax powers to follow in 2028. Now we're very excited in Cheshire Madam Deputy Speaker, because we're getting our first mayor in May. And we campaigned hard as Labour MPs in Cheshire to get there and to repeat the tremendous journey that Manchester and Liverpool and other cities have had, and replicate it in our own area, and unlock that potential.

And fiscal devolution is an opportunity and a challenge, an opportunity to write our own destiny. A challenge to say that if we invest in ourselves, that good growth projects support innovation, industry and productivity, we can make ourselves richer without being reliant on Whitehall or the outside world. It's an opportunity we in Cheshire and Macclesfield will seize, with both hands, breaking the link between Whitehall handouts and investment in Cheshire is a huge step towards us having more control over our own future and I support this Budget wholeheartedly.

Thank you.
15:28
Wendy Morton Portrait Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
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Wendy Morton thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Last Friday, I Deputy Speaker. Last Friday, I welcomed representatives from over 40 local businesses to my business breakfast. Different sizes, different sectors, but the same clear message. The cost of doing business is too high. These are hard working people. They want to be able to get on and do business, expand and invest in their staff. Yet at every turn, this government makes it harder. Indeed, 6 in 10 small businesses feel that government is not on their side, according to a recent opinion poll. Higher employer National Insurance contributions, increases in the minimum wage and soaring energy bills are squeezing margins.

Add to that, mounting regulation and burdensome employment law introduced by this government. Business confidence has been negative for seven consecutive months. Businesses need a Budget that gave them confidence. Instead, they were thrown a damp squib. But perhaps we should not be surprised, Madam Deputy Speaker. This weekend, the Chief Secretary of the Treasury, who I do respect, but she told us she didn't think employers are working people. Well, I'd like to invite her to Aldridge-Brownhills and let her tell that to the people running our hair salons, our restaurants, our garages and our delivery companies, people who are the first up on the morning to open up the business.

They leave last and they often pay themselves last after every one else. That is the harsh reality. They do not stop being working people. The the moment they give up. They give somebody else a job. And that remark tells us exactly how little this government understands about people who create jobs in our communities. My hon. Friend. Hon. Friend. Give way.

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I thank my right hon. Friend for giving way, and she raises a number of points, including extra regulation, extra tax and actually the people this is hurting and impacting the most is young people impacting the most is young people in terms of job opportunities. That certainly seems to be the case in my constituency. Is it the case in hers as well?

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hers as well? The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely spot on, and that was the point I was just about to to the point I was just about to to come on the impact on young people, because recruitment and training were also raised at my business breakfast. Local employers want to recruit, but finding people with the right skills and experience remains a challenge. They need a more flexible apprenticeship system that gives young people the skills and the experience that local businesses are looking for. With almost 1 million young people outside education, employment or training, it's time to close the gap between the skills that employers need and the opportunities that young people can access.

We need training that leads to real jobs, apprenticeships that work for employers, and a welfare system that expects those who can work to do so. Ministers also need to give businesses the confidence to recruit. And yet we see a government that whose answer is always to spend more and tax more. Its decisions have added £75.1 billion to the tax burden by the end of this Parliament, with taxes forecast to reach their highest level on record. Families and businesses across my constituency
15:34
Gerald Jones Portrait Gerald Jones MP (Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, Labour)
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are being asked to pay for a government that cannot live within its means, and you cannot revive its means, and you cannot revive our high streets by taxing businesses out of businesses and into closing their doors. And it's into closing their doors. And it's time the Treasury assessed the cumulative impact of their tax increases, and that this government's policy choices, the impact on jobs and investment impact on jobs and investment before more livelihoods and more opportunities for the next generation are lost. The Prime Minister may like writing a blank cheque, but what he really needs, Madam Deputy Speaker, is a reality check.

A reality check from businesses like those in my constituency. And finally, I want to speak to a sector close to my heart, and that is hospices. Because for families in Aldridge-Brownhills, hospices such as Acorns and Saint Giles provide care, comfort and support at some of life's most difficult moments. Their staff, their volunteers and fundraisers make an extraordinary contribution. But charitable generosity cannot keep pace indefinitely with rising costs. As hospice UK has made clear, this Budget failed to address the funding crisis even as hospices are cutting frontline services. There is a crucial distinction between funding buildings and funding care.

Capital investment is welcome, absolutely, but a refurbished room cannot care for a child without a specialist nurse to staff it. And when the NHS commissions care from a hospice, its contract should reflect the cost of providing it. Hospices need fair funding in all postcodes that allows them to retain staff and plan services with confidence. So to conclude, this Budget falls short. It made by the Chancellor some breathing space, but it offers precious little to my constituents and my local businesses.

It ducks the difficult
15:39
Calum Miller Portrait Calum Miller MP (Bicester and Woodstock, Liberal Democrat)
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decisions. It leaves the ballooning welfare ballooning unchecked, and it pushes today's problems further it pushes today's problems further down the road, leaving the country less prepared for tomorrow. And less prepared for tomorrow. And just yesterday we heard the ILR U-turn, which will only increase the welfare bill. Was that costed in this Budget? I really would like to know, because we have a government more concerned with government more concerned with keeping its own backbenchers happy than taking the tough decisions that this country needs. The Chancellor may have bought himself time, but it is my constituents who

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will pay the price. Thank you. Gerald Jones thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Pleased to be able Deputy Speaker. Pleased to be able to make a contribution in this Budget debate. I very much welcome the breathing space that this the breathing space that this Budget provides for families across Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. I welcome the additional £450 million welcome the additional £450 million spending power delivered to the Welsh Government as a direct result of this Budget, which they will of this Budget, which they will hopefully utilise to support public services across Wales as part of at least 6.5 billion total additional spending power.

Already, over this spending review period to the Welsh Government, as a result of decisions taken by this UK Labour Government. And please also to see that this Labour Government is backing economic growth in Wales, delivering on our commitment on rail with a £30 million to drive forward new stations in Wales, subject to customary government confirming that the Welsh Government will match our ambition, the government is giving families in Wales breathing space with help on things that matter most. Energy costs, fuel, food prices, pensions and wages. Thanks to decisions taken by this government, around a million households in Wales in council tax bands A to D will receive the £100 payment towards utilities.

I'm also pleased that the tariffs have been removed on over 100 food products, helping with the weekly shop. Many of these are small things but added together they make a big difference to families across the constituency and indeed across the country.
15:43
Taiwo Owatemi Portrait Taiwo Owatemi MP (Coventry North West, Labour)
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Wales is patron saint. Saint David is famous for asking people to do the little things, a slightly different context, but the different context, but the principle is the same. Little things taken together can make a things taken together can make a big difference. I also wanted to take this opportunity, Madam Deputy Speaker, to highlight the miners pension fund and declare an interest. My brother is a former miner, and many of my extended family have also worked in the coal industry. I'd like to focus on the last remaining call to transfer the guarantor fund. Many ex-miners were the lifeblood of community life in my part of Wales and not only built our communities, but built and empowered our country.

Many sacrificed their lives and many more sacrificed their health. That was the real price of coal. We owe them a debt. And the injustice of the miners pension fund is something that this party has made some huge progress since coming into government. We are the only party to take this meaningful steps to put this right. In the 2024 Budget, the Miners Pension Scheme, £1.5 billion investment reserve was transferred to its 110,000 members, resulting in a 32% pension bonus around £29 a week in the 2025 Budget. The British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Fund went through the same process, with its £2.3 billion investment reserve transferred to its 40,000 members, resulting in a 41% pension bonus around £100 a week.

I'm pleased that in this Budget, the Chancellor announced that every penny of the surplus from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme will remain within the scheme and their members, rather than being divided with the government. Importantly, and crucially, the Chancellor also committed to go on to ensure that this is unfinished business and the full transfer of the guarantee fund will follow. This is something that finally rights the injustice that miners have faced for too long. However, we need this final place to be delivered sooner rather than later. The many ex-miners who are elderly and many in poor health, with many dying every month.

I recognise the urgency and I pledge to continue to work with my colleagues and I say to former
15:49
Bobby Dean Portrait Bobby Dean MP (Carshalton and Wallington, Liberal Democrat)
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miners across my constituency that miners across my constituency that I will continue fighting for you until you get the justice that you have been waiting for, for freeze have been waiting for, for freeze in fuel duty. And I raise again the scandal of the fuel prices locally, particularly in the Merthyr Tydfil part of my constituency. Fuel prices have remained stubbornly prices have remained stubbornly higher than other local areas. I've previously noted that fuel prices in central London have been lower than in Merthyr Tydfil. Even the local Asda store were charging around £0.10 per litre more in Merthyr Tydfil than any other of their local stores.

When I met Asda earlier this year, they recognised this and reduced their prices by £0.05 per litre within a few days. The remaining retailers did not follow suit. Whilst the war in Iran has made matters a whole lot worse, the impact on Merthyr Tydfil is worse than in many other local communities and whilst I recognise that the government cannot force retailers to lower their prices, I've contacted the CMA to ask for their help in highlighting the unfairness of fuel prices in my community and how they're impacting on my constituents who feel that they've been unfairly ripped off at the fuel pumps.

And I call in this Budget to ask the CMA to step forward, come to the table and see what they can do to help my

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constituents. Thank you. Calum Miller thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Speaker, the government has labelled today's government has labelled today's debate fresh hope for the future, but I regret that the Budget failed to meet the hopes of my to meet the hopes of my constituents. Madam Speaker, my constituency contains a series of leading spin out innovation and leading spin out innovation and engineering companies from Oxford Ionics to zero fuels from the Jaguar and McLaren formula E teams Jaguar and McLaren formula E teams to Siemens health engineers.

They want to put the area on the map as one of the fastest growing tech
15:53
Peter Lamb Portrait Peter Lamb MP (Crawley, Labour)
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hubs in the country, yet too many face one major constraint energy. The queue for grid connection facing many new businesses and developments in my constituency is well into the 2030s. Many well into the 2030s. Many households in the area are also used to power outages. The Cooper School in Bicester recently had to close for a day because of the lack of power. Northwest Vista, a site for 6000 homes, was delayed by over for 6000 homes, was delayed by over two years purely due to a lack of grid connectivity. Now we have two mega data centres proposed south of Kidlington.

Exeter College proposes a new centre for south east of Bicester. A large centre will require electricity equivalent to that needed for 1.4 million homes. These are huge numbers for an area that already faces energy scarcity. So my constituents are worried that the Chancellor's commitment to push data centres to the front of the queue will overload local networks or delay connections for essential new services. The government must commit to publish an assessment of capacity before allowing data centres to jump the queue. Madam Deputy Speaker. I agree with the Prime Minister and Chancellor that we need to give more power back to the people and end the UK's excessive centralisation in London.

In principle, I support the creation of a Thames Valley mayor to create a regional level of devolution. But devolution must give local communities a stronger voice over the cumulative impact of development in our area. New housing, data centres and major infrastructure projects cannot be considered in isolation. They make demand on the same roads, public services and electricity networks. Residents experience the combined impact the pressure on roads, GP surgeries, schools and utilities must be assessed across the whole area.

Madam Deputy Speaker buried in the Budget document is another announcement of real interest to my
15:58
John Hayes Portrait Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP (South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)
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constituents. £150 million of additional funds to support large asylum centres, such as that asylum centres, such as that proposed for site A of MoD Bicester. My constituents and I oppose this scheme for many reasons, but in scheme for many reasons, but in this Budget debate I will limit myself to the eye watering costs of converting this derelict storage converting this derelict storage depot, which has never had accommodation for people into a accommodation for people into a village for 1256 asylum seekers. The best estimate is around £280 million in capital costs and £80 million in annual operating costs, more than £1 billion over ten years.

 That raises serious questions about how far the additional £150 million will stretch. I urge the Chancellor, Chief Secretary and their officials to take a close look at Home Office spending. I fear they will find once again that the asylum programme is out of control. They will certainly find that building new accommodation at MoD Bicester is a very bad deal for the taxpayer. Deputy speaker. Turning to hospitality, pubs, cafes and restaurants are key to the health of the high streets of Bicester, Kidlington and Woodstock in the rural villages of my constituency. The local pub, alongside the church and the primary school, are the key local institutions to many of these businesses.

Like the much loved Fat Zebra Cafe and Vistas, Market Square have recently been forced to close. Too many others tell me that they are facing mounting and unrelenting cost rises. Relief on business rates is welcome, but businesses tell me it may not be enough to keep them afloat. I urge the Treasury to look again at the Liberal Democrat proposal to cut VAT for hospitality businesses. My Deputy Speaker This Budget was a missed opportunity for my constituencies. It failed to reassure them that infrastructure would come first before major development. It backed a failing Home Office programme for large asylum centres.

It failed to deliver a stronger local voice despite promises of devolution, and it failed to support the pubs, cafes and restaurants at the heart of our communities. I urge the

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government to give my constituents more hope in the future. Here. Taiwo Owatemi.

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Taiwo Owatemi. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is lovely to be back, speaking in the chamber and to be in the chamber and to be contributing to a Budget, a welcome Budget for the life sciences. So if you indulge me, Madam Deputy you indulge me, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to put on my pharmacy hat and to geek out a little bit about the life science little bit about the life science announcements in this Budget, over £1 billion of private investment in the sector, backed by nearly 70 million of government funding, supporting 1000 jobs, 500 million across the UK, including a new research hub in Manchester for a company making stomach care products.

ConvaTec 300 million in a research facility in Oxfordshire for vertex. 200 million in Loughborough to manufacturing respiratory medicines, including the new generation of inhalers and closer to home. Just yesterday, Ministers announced 21 million for the West Midlands Clinical Commercial Catalyst, with Coventry University amongst the partners. That investment in British research,
16:06
Gill German Portrait Gill German MP (Clwyd North, Labour)
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manufacturing and skilled people who work in both. I also welcome the Chancellor's decision to remove the Chancellor's decision to remove VAT for orphan drugs, rare disease treatments, providing direct care treatments, providing direct care for compassionate use and early access schemes. This makes it easier for people to access new easier for people to access new treatments and continue their care. But access isn't only about new treatments. It's about being able treatments. It's about being able to get the medicines you already depend on. And recently, Madam Deputy Speaker, Europe's last fully integrated medicine factory in Austria is considering closing down due to Chinese competition.

That should make us think carefully about where our medicines come from, because in Britain we heavily rely on medicines and active ingredients from India and China. With tariffs returning and global supply chains becoming increasingly uncertain. We cannot afford to depend on a handful of countries or factories for medicines that patients simply cannot afford. Madam Deputy Speaker, we've seen supply problems with prion, the pancreatic enzyme used by people with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic cancer, and with particular formulations of sodium valproate, lamotrigine and phenobarbitals. Medicines medicines used to treat epilepsy and Poole, a common drug used by millions of people for high blood pressure and heart conditions.

And as any pharmacist knows, most treatments can impact health and can mean a condition being managed at home ends in an emergency admission that's worse for patients, and it costs the NHS more. So although I applaud the work that DWP is doing to help more people with health conditions into work, and I look
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Liz Jarvis Portrait Liz Jarvis MP (Eastleigh, Liberal Democrat)
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forward to the Milburn review. If someone with epilepsy cannot reliably get their antiseizure medication, how do we expect them to work, let alone to be productive? to work, let alone to be productive? If someone cannot get their medicines that they used for their heart condition to ensure that it's heart condition to ensure that it's stable and they become unwell, too unwell to work, how can we talk about improving Britain's productivity, ensuring people can manage their health conditions, stay in work and contribute to our economy must be part of that conversation to. So I welcome the government's 520 million Life Sciences Innovation, Innovative Manufacturing Fund and the Chancellor's additional 20.4 billion of financial capacity for the National Wealth Fund and Business Bank.

The government has made a strong start in attracting investment, but we also need to be strategic and proactive about where that investment goes. So I would like to ask the Treasury, health Ministers and business Ministers to work together to identify which essential medicines and ingredients are more critical, where our supply chains are most vulnerable, and where manufacturing in Britain can make the biggest difference. Then let us use some of that financing to attract private investment and build up our manufacturing capacity before the next shortage becomes a crisis. Madam Deputy Speaker, we have excellent scientists and researchers.

Let's make sure we have the capacity to to make reliable and supply the medicines patients depend on. Finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to quickly speak about what this Budget means for my constituents in Coventry North West, more than 40,000 local people are set to benefit from the £100 payment towards their energy bills this winter, and that is some very welcome help for those working in our shops and pubs and our care
16:15
John Slinger Portrait John Slinger MP (Rugby, Labour)
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homes. The increase in National Insurance and National Living Wage Insurance and National Living Wage to £13.13 £0.21 next April would mean more money in their pockets, and I particularly welcome the and I particularly welcome the additional business rate relief for our high streets. Supporting independent shops, cafes and pubs that are so important to our that are so important to our communities while removing the relief for from vape shops. Because relief for from vape shops. Because our high streets are about more than shopping, these places where neighbourhood meets, where local

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people make a living and where we take pride in our communities. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Bobby Dean thank.

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Bobby Dean thank. You, Madam Deputy Speaker. This has been dubbed by some as a steady as she goes Budget, and that's been interpreted differently by different sides of the debate. Some have taken that as praise and have taken that as praise and others have taken that as criticism. And it will surprise you, Madam Deputy Speaker, that I will fall down on the side that being a down on the side that being a criticism. And that is because I hold this really controversial view and that controversial view is that avoiding market turmoil is a minimum requirement for a Budget.

 It's necessary, but not sufficient. And especially when you look at the challenges that we face in this country. I accept the constraints we face with the war that's happening in Iran and everything that does to the country's finances inflation, energy prices and so on. But we have more challenges than that to face up to. And this government actually recognises those challenges. They have commissioned reports on welfare reform, but they have pushed it to the other side of the Budget. They have a Chancellor who recognises that we need to have a plan to get to 3% spending on defence, but they have pushed those decisions further down the track too.

They understand that growth has been appalling in this country for a long, long time, and yet they have not revealed what their plan for growth will be. These are all known issues and unaddressed in this Budget, and I think that is a massive missed opportunity. Now, that's not for the want of measures in this Budget. There were a record breaking 98 measures in this Budget, but they added up to cumulatively the lowest total value we've seen for a very long time. So let's get into some of those. The government have been praising themselves for their energy support package £100, and who could be churlish about £100.
16:20
Adam Dance Portrait Adam Dance MP (Yeovil, Liberal Democrat)
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In times like this you shouldn't really be. But the truth is that that scheme is insufficient and poorly targeted. And the tragedy of this is, is that we had an energy this is, is that we had an energy crisis in 2022, and we had to deliver huge sums of money almost universally at that time. And universally at that time. And everybody said, we can't let this happen again. We must have a much more targeted, much more more targeted, much more sufficiently targeted scheme in the future. Four years on, and what is the system we have?

We're relying on the valuations of properties from 1991 to target our support. What a failure of government that is. And more than that, hundreds of thousands of low income households now are set to miss out on support. And those most in support are not going to get enough. And if you look at all of the breathing space measures combined, the very poorest deciles are getting just £15 more on average than all the others. There are far more that this government could have done to deliver on breathing space. They could have, for instance, looked at the Liberal Democrat proposal of an essential energy guarantee more targeted, more support at the right levels of incomes.

This has been a real failure of government. A second thing that the government have been praising themselves for is the bank tax and the contributions they've got that sector to make. We called for a bank tax and we broadly welcome it. But why didn't they go further? The banking industry were expecting this measure to be permanent. They're expecting it to be at 8%.
16:23
Margaret Mullane Portrait Margaret Mullane MP (Dagenham and Rainham, Labour)
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And bank shares went up when they found out that that wasn't what the government was going to do. And on committee this morning, we heard committee this morning, we heard from people from the banking sector who said they didn't believe it would affect competitiveness, and they weren't unlikely to be passing they weren't unlikely to be passing these costs onto the consumer, because basically, they've been getting £1 billion a week this year because of mortgage rates, interest because of mortgage rates, interest rates being so high, they could have been squeezed more, and this government failed to do it.

On government failed to do it. On Living Standards Resolution Foundation this morning described it as catastrophic. The 20 tens was the worst decade on record, 14% growth in real household disposable income, the 2020s. The forecast, according to the OBR, 1.4%. This is a tragedy for every working family in Britain. And that's before we get on to the cost of doing business or the spending pressures that are pencilled in down the track. Courtrooms, classrooms, councils all set for real term cuts. Under this government, it's all in black and white. That is their proposal to come.

And all of this can be solved really only one way, and that is via growth. And I said at the beginning, there is a lack of a growth plan, but there is one waiting on the table for them. We would like the Prime Minister to stop having a very open, frank conversation with himself on Europe, and that actually start putting forward some concrete proposals, such as rejoining the single market. It's the quickest single measure we could do to boost growth in this country, and we should get on with it. This has been a Budget deferred deferred decisions on welfare, on defence, on Europe, on public services and on growth.

The Prime Minister came into office promising to end 40 years of neoliberalism, and it will surely make its 41st birthday. Now it has been a missed opportunity that they will come to regret. Budgets do not come around very often. Just ask any of the six Chancellors in the last six years, and political capital is a depreciating asset. It is best to spend it early and they have utterly failed to do it.
16:28
Steff Aquarone Portrait Steff Aquarone MP (North Norfolk, Liberal Democrat)
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They have called Peter Lamb. >> Today's Budget is fresh Hope for the future, so I'd like to take the opportunity to review the pledges that I made to my constituents at the general election, how this Budget is helping to deliver on them. And given that the government has set out that it itself looks at it's the start of the process, my fresh hopes for the future. But first, since they're so interested in getting to the conversation, I'll deal with the members opposite. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out the Budget last Wednesday.

That is the best received Labour Budget in 23 years. Now, that's very clearly indicated that the public and the market have accepted it as a fantastic development. Now you can hear the disappointment from the members opposite. You can hear that they're desperate for their attack lines, which aren't getting through to get public attention back to them. But what have we actually heard? We heard from the opposition front bench. We heard £30 billion worth of unfunded tax cuts. That is what the conservative plan is so far. That's their own figures. Their own figures indicate £30 billion so far.

That is exactly what happened in the Liz Truss Truss mini Budget. They have learned no lessons from these exact economic situation. They put us in here today. I promised my constituents that we would have a thriving local economy and that there would be support for the town centre and Crawley Crawley economy is thriving. I think if anyone looks, they'd have to accept that our major employers are expanding in the area. Developments such as the government's funded Crawley Innovation Centre are
16:32
Michelle Scrogham Portrait Michelle Scrogham MP (Barrow and Furness, Labour)
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bringing forward the new generation of technologies that are going to generate further economic growth within this country. Business rate within this country. Business rate changes are making it easier for properties on the high street. Many of the reforms set out in the of the reforms set out in the Budget this week are going to make things considerably easier for people, and high street rental auctions enable us to tackle people who own property and are not putting people in for their own financial reasons. My hope for the future is we can get further reform, future is we can get further reform, and that will start addressing the unfair practices within the delivery industry, which is allowing that sector and online retail to kill off many of our high street businesses.

On housing, which delivers for local people. My second pledge we have the first time buyer schemes. It's your first time, first time buyer ISAs. We have planning reforms coming through. We have £432 million for ending rough sleeping. We have over £40 billion. The biggest investment in affordable housing in a generation coming forward, new towns, greater rights for private tenants through the Renters Rights Act. We are delivering for people on housing and I hope for the future is more funding, more funding for affordable housing, moving away from the current financial structures, direct delivery from the government, an end to hope value and HRA reform.

I said I wanted a better future for Crawley's children and what do we have? We have paid maternity leave so fathers can spend those first critical weeks with their children. More fathers that set the tone for their relationship to develop. With the expansion of 30 hours of free childcare, we have seen reform coming forward. We have the return of surestart. I don't know why we've gone with new branding, but the return of Surestart into our communities with an end to the two child poverty trap that the members opposite begged us not to remove. We have free school meals expansion.

We have the fastest reduction in poverty of any first term government in this country's history. Coming forward, I hope for the future. We continue to work towards ending child poverty. We have action on NEETs. We ensure that every child gets the support that they need, and that we create real social mobility. I pledge real action on crime, anti-social behaviour with the Neighbourhood Policing guarantee, an end to the £200 threshold and shoplifting for new offences with respect to orders coming forward to ban repeat offenders from public places. And we have preventative departmental spending, so we can really put in place the action necessary to protect our communities.

My hope for the future. We take the gloves
16:37
Lara Bird Portrait Lara Bird MP (Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, Scottish National Party)
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off the police. We bring into judicial reform to make it easier to send criminals to jail, with better use of automated technology and greater use of on the spot penalties. And lastly, a better resourced NHS that is there when resourced NHS that is there when you need it. We have the NHS ten year plan and national plans for diseases such as cancer, rapid action on waiting lists, new capital investment and a huge expansion of diagnostic equipment and record investment in our National health Service. My hope for the future is that the service focuses on keeping people well, rather than addressing only their needs when they are sick, and that we move services back into every postcode where possible.

Madam Deputy Speaker, there should be no limits on the aspiration of this government or those of our constituents, constituents for our country. We should look at the progress which has already been made and the ills which affect our society. This Budget is taking us another step closer to the future that we all seek, and I look forward to many more budgets from my right hon. Friend the Chancellor

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of the Exchequer. Thank you, Sir John Hayes. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. This Budget might Deputy Speaker. This Budget might be described as the John Lennon Budget. It expects us to imagine a better future. But actually the Chancellor's performance was more Chancellor's performance was more like a better Lennon lyric. Life is what happens when you're busy making plans. Because this Budget was long on plans and short on decisive delivery. Leaving aside the self-evident exponential crisis of welfare spending, I mean self-evident, but no. Nonetheless. Perhaps it's necessary to explain. The benefits are due to hit 431 billion.

There are three macroeconomic weaknesses in this Budget, which I seek briefly to highlight. The Prime Minister may say that he has to wait for the Milburn and Tims review, but while he's doing so, while these plans are being hatched, the percentage of all young people in the UK who are not in education, employment and training in January to March
16:42
Perran Moon Portrait Perran Moon MP (Camborne and Redruth, Independent)
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this year was 13.5%. A million people aged 16 to 24 without a job, training or education. And to echo the comments of the Member for Widnes and Howard, this is a waste Widnes and Howard, this is a waste of talent on a national scale which is a national scandal. The Budget is a national scandal. The Budget represented a wasted opportunity to address those issues and particularly to build skills that particularly to build skills that those people might might enable those people to gain necessary job. The failure to address that may become the defining, the defining characteristic of this administration.

They're not new problems, obviously. Skills Minister as some people in this chamber will know, and I was well aware of the root causes of NEETs and how we might address them. We managed to reduce the number we inherited in 2010 by almost 300,000 by 2015. And I was able also to build a number of apprenticeships, the greatest number in modern times, over 500,000. Since then, that number has dwindled. It's only by equipping people with skills that have economic value, which allow them to be the best they can be. We can also sustain an economy which is desperate for those skills.

What successive governments done instead is to import labour. And every time we import labour, every time we make that easier, we displace the investment in our own workforce. Both those young people that I described, but also existing workers who need to be reskilled or upskilled, and the myth that was perpetuated largely by the Treasury. I don't blame politicians. I happily give way. I'm always happy to give way to my to my.

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Taking a very powerful speech. And does he share my disappointment And does he share my disappointment and dismay with this fact that for every young Brit who is hired today, every young Brit who is hired today, there are 27 young foreign workers who are hired. This is reflecting. who are hired. This is reflecting. You know, young people are being locked out of the labour market because of mass immigration. Well.

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because of mass immigration. Well. I write to a friend is absolutely right. Young people are being forced to compete with those foreign workers for a scarce number of jobs. And the only people who support that policy are dim witted, bourgeois liberals and half hearted plutocrats, because both of them glory in the idea of these foreign labour, and that foreign labour is edging Britons out of jobs and by, by and by so doing weakening our economy.

On that point, I happily give way.
16:49
Suella Braverman Portrait Rt Hon Suella Braverman KC MP (Fareham and Waterlooville, Reform UK)
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I'm grateful to the hon. Right, >> I'm grateful to the hon. Right, hon. Gentleman for giving way. He surely has not missed the evidence surely has not missed the evidence that since his party's botched Brexit deal, it has become more expensive to do business in the UK, businesses are wrapped up in red tape and many businesses have moved abroad taking good, high quality, high jobs with them. We have a crisis in this country caused by many different factors. One of the factors why there are graduates who can't get jobs is because his party's ridiculous Brexit deal has driven businesses abroad.

If we get back into the single market and make it cheaper for businesses,

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will come back here and create jobs for British young people. I want to address the issue of

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I want to address the issue of trade later. The hon. Lady has encouraged me to do so now. The truth is the balance of payments truth is the balance of payments has been a neglected subject in this Parliament and for successive this Parliament and for successive governments for decades. We never sold as much to Europe as they sold to us, and that balance was out of to us, and that balance was out of kilter for the whole time we were members of the European Union. No, I won't give way again, because there's only there's only so much you can teach liberal Democrats.

 And, and I and I'm no. You teach liberal Democrats. The balance of trade figures were once a pivotal announcement in Parliament and in governments. And that has been forgotten as we've chosen to import more and more goods into this country and make fewer and fewer. And the hon. Lady will recognise that representing a rural constituency that grows a lot of the food we consume. I'm particularly sensitive to the fact that we've made ourselves dependent on foreign food imports. That is preposterous. We need to shorten supply chains, make ourselves more economically resilient. As the Prime Minister said, actually, as the well, I was about to say, as the Prime Minister, that I will give way once more to see if I can teach you something more.

As the Prime Minister said, we must remanufacture we must build our manufacturing capacity again. Successive governments have failed to do this. I don't claim any credit for any political party, and

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certainly I play no credit for the Liberal Democrats. John Milne gentleman is absolutely contradicting himself. He has simultaneously said we need He has simultaneously said we need to shorten supply chains to improve our food security, whilst defending the very trade barriers that prevent British importers and exporters getting food to each other on a shorter supply chain. It other on a shorter supply chain. It was at the hon. Gentleman's party that did terrible trade deals with New Zealand and Australia that has put food prices up and undermined British farmers. Would he like to apologise for that?

Because after ten years we are still teaching the

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Conservatives how damaging their trade deal was? Well, I mentioned my record on friendship. I was in the coalition government when I was able to bring about that outcome with the full about that outcome with the full support of Liberal Democrat Ministers. It was Vince Cable, actually, it was the Secretary of State who understood the need to build skills and train domestic workers. So we weren't dependent in workers. So we weren't dependent in the way I described, dependent on European goods or goods from anywhere else in the world. We just need to make more of more of what we consume.

It's not hard to work out. I said I'd deal with 1 or 2 other things, and I. Time is pressing. Productivity is a macroeconomic problem which has faced all governments. Declining productivity over time means that we spend a great deal of money on things. We don't get a great deal of outcome from. Our productivity is worse than some of our key competitors, and government needs to focus on that. This. The previous Prime Minister and his Ministers said they would. But there was little about that in the Budget. To summarise. Madam Deputy Speaker. I think it was Disraeli who said that men are not the victim of circumstances.

They victim of circumstances. They create circumstances and it's not enough to blame context for the failure to address the macroeconomic problems of skills, productivity and immigration. More must be done and done soon.
16:59
Elsie Blundell Portrait Mrs Elsie Blundell MP (Heywood and Middleton North, Labour)
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Gill German thank. weekend I was out on the doorstep speaking to constituents in Clwyd North, and I was reminded once again that the issues people care about most are often very different from the arguments that dominate our social media, away from the toxicity and division that can sometimes feed our fear feeds. People weren't so interested in political point scoring. They wanted to talk about the practical challenges that they face every day paying the bills, accessing healthcare, supporting their families and making their money go a little further. And the message I heard time and again was that people can see that this Budget is responding to those everyday pressures, despite global challenges, they welcomed measures that will help with the cost of living, whether that's support with rising bills or action to bring down the cost of everyday items in their shopping baskets.

These may be small changes in isolation, but when you're balancing a household Budget every month, small savings can make a big difference. They welcome the £100 payment towards energy bills and the extension of the 0% rate of VAT on electricity bills, and they welcome the removal of the gas standing charge that has long been called for, and will mean that households only pay for the gas they actually use. For too long, households have paid an unavoidable fixed costs, regardless of how much energy they use.

It's a welcome step, but I also want to see real progress on electricity standing
17:03
Wera Hobhouse Portrait Wera Hobhouse MP (Bath, Liberal Democrat)
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charges to. In North Wales, many families are rightly frustrated that they pay some of the highest standing charges in the country, paying before they've even switched on a light. We've heard the on a light. We've heard the Chancellor make clear that removing the standing charge for electricity is the next area of focus, and I will be pressing for that will be pressing for that commitment to be delivered so that my North Wales constituents have a my North Wales constituents have a fair deal. And of course, I heard local people talk about public services, too. I heard concerns about waiting lists, access to health care and support for additional learning needs in our schools.

No one pretends that money alone will solve these challenges, but extra investment gives us a far better chance of tackling them. So I welcome the extra £450 million of additional funding coming to Wales, building on the largest funding settlement since devolution delivered in the spending review by this Labour government. My constituents want to see shorter waiting lists, better support for children and stronger public services. They want to see funding translated into results, so it will be up to the minority Plaid Cymru government in Wales to make this happen by getting on with the day job, with fewer consultations and more action.

Finally, one thing that genuinely encouraged me on the doorstep was a sense that people were starting to see politics more connected to their everyday lives. There was support for our new Prime Minister, with one constituent saying, I could imagine the Prime Minister standing on my doorstep having this very conversation. That comment stayed with me because it wasn't just about the Prime Minister, it was about feeling heard. People want politicians who speak their language and understand the pressures that are facing them, and are focussed on the issues that matter to them most. This Budget responds to many of the concerns people have raised with me in person, while providing welcome, additional investment and opportunity for Wales.

I will continue working to ensure that the continue working to ensure that the people of Clwyd North see the full benefit of that investment. benefit of that investment.
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Ian Byrne Portrait Ian Byrne MP (Liverpool West Derby, Labour)
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Liz Jarvis thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Last Wednesday, my constituents in EC looked to the Chancellor for real help with the cost of living. While some of the measures he announced are welcome, I'm afraid this Budget lacks ambition, is short term and poorly targeted. According to the Resolution Foundation, the one off household energy payment based on council tax bands rather than need, means 1.4 million low income households in higher bands will miss out, while the scrapping of gas standing charges will save the typical household just £1.83 a month, and the cuts to VAT on electricity and fuel duty both end next July, long before the OBR expects pressure on family budgets to ease.

For constituents like Susan, a widow who lives in a park home in Fair Oaks, the Budget offered very little. She is off the main gas grid and has no choice but to heat her home with liquid petroleum gas, which is far more expensive and is not protected by the energy price cap. Her £100 payment will barely touch the sides, and scrapping standing charges does nothing for her. Will the Minister set out what support the government will provide for off grid households like Susan, who rely on liquid petroleum gas and are not protected by the energy price cap?

 The Chancellor's decision to raise the threshold for small business rates relief from 12,000 to 18,000 is welcome. However, the policy doesn't live up to the headline, benefiting only a limited number of businesses. In Eastleigh. On Thursday, I hosted a Post-budget Budget business breakfast in my constituency. Lucy, who runs Telemark Inc. a precision precision engineering firm in Chelmsford, told me her rates bill has doubled in six years and manufacturers like
17:12
Peter Swallow Portrait Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)
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hers got nothing. Jane runs Elite Hair Salon and has a microbusiness. Hair Salon and has a microbusiness. She's too small for the changes to make any difference, she told me. Overall, this Budget has done Overall, this Budget has done little to support my business or many others within the hair and beauty sector. I welcome the extra beauty sector. I welcome the extra small producer relief. However, raising alcohol duty yet again in February will hit the very pubs and February will hit the very pubs and drinkers that small brewers depend on, which is why we oppose it.

Madam Deputy Speaker, as we approach Remembrance Sunday in the current climate, ensuring our armed forces are properly equipped is more urgent than ever in Eastleigh. Stewart, who runs GW Martin and Co, has welcomed the government's commitment to small firms in the Defence Investment Plan but told me we would like to see greater urgency funding in funding this necessary investment as we have capacity and capability to respond quickly, which will create jobs, growth and revenue. Instead. The plan to reach 3% of GDP on defence has been pushed back to next year's spending review. James, who owns J, an apprenticeship provider, told me this was not a Budget for youth employment.

The payment for taking on an apprentice hasn't gone up in five years, while the cost of employing and training a young person keeps rising here, the Chancellor had a choice. He could have reversed the increase to employer National Insurance contributions, which has sent job vacancies to a five year low. Instead, he told young people to wait for another review on plan two student loans. This Budget was again silent. It was an opportunity to reverse last autumn's deeply unfair decision to freeze the repayment threshold from April 2027 for three years, with the minimum wage rising and the threshold frozen, we are approaching the point where graduate on the minimum wage could have to start repaying.

So I urge the Treasury to scrap the freeze and link the threshold to average earnings. I am pleased to see the Chancellor has finally listened to Lib Dem calls to scrap the Carer's allowance cliff edge. This is a welcome first step, but it will not come into force until 2030. Carer's trying to balance work with looking after a loved one. Need this safety net now. Not in four years time. So will the Minister commit to bringing forward its introduction so carers don't have to wait until 2030? EC needed a Budget with real ambition. This one falls short and I urge the Chancellor to go further.

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John Slinger thank you madam. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am glad to support this excellent Budget. I welcome and agree with the Chancellor's praise for his the Chancellor's praise for his predecessor. My right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds West and Pudsey, whose commitment to secure Pudsey, whose commitment to secure economic foundations has helped fund sustained public investment and deliver growth, and it has and deliver growth, and it has helped the Chancellor to quite rightly offer breathing space now and fresh hope for the future.

Now
17:19
Andy MacNae Portrait Andy MacNae MP (Rossendale and Darwen, Labour)
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I'm going to focus on the latter, but on breathing space. The Budget, but on breathing space. The Budget, delivered with 41,760 households in my constituency to receive the £100 household energy payment. And as someone whose professional career was in the private sector, I was particularly delighted to see the particularly delighted to see the two year business rate freeze, which will benefit 336 local retail, which will benefit 336 local retail, hospitality and leisure properties in my constituency of Rugby, Bulkington and The villages, there was much in the Budget to on fresh hope for the future.

The words of the Prime Minister are important in this context. Madam Deputy Speaker. In his Labour conference speech, he said Hope comes from honesty. It comes from saying the things politicians usually avoid. It's what I call hard headed hope. We need what I call the responsibility revolution, a focus on what each of us as individuals or organisations should contribute or indeed sacrifice, rather than what our entitlements are to receive. We older folk have a responsibility to the next generation, so my speech will focus primarily on the physical embodiment of fresh hope for the future. Our young people.

There can be no more important long term issue than their interests in addressing a long term challenge. For those at the opposite end of the age spectrum, the Prime Minister set out in his Labour conference speech how the government will adjust the pension triple lock a bold and much needed move, he also said. He also said that we will need to show the same boldness for our young people too. And the Budget did this in several ways and I warmly welcome my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's announcements of the your first home equity loan scheme and the first time buyer Isa.

Madam Deputy Speaker, that young people are priced out of affordable housing is a national scandal. Thousands of people in my constituency of Rugby will appreciate also the much needed 3.9% increase in the
17:24
Martin Rhodes Portrait Martin Rhodes MP (Glasgow North, Labour)
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national living and minimum wage, and the Young Entrepreneurs Allowance is a vital pro young Allowance is a vital pro young people pro entrepreneurship measure, and let's encourage young people across the country to consider across the country to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career option. However, Madam Deputy Speaker, we need to go much further Speaker, we need to go much further to provide hope for the future. We need to keep going until we can truly say that our young people are truly say that our young people are equipped sufficiently to be the architects of the future, rather than the tenants in a world designed by the older generation, all too often shaped by their interests.

So I'd like to see the appointment of a Minister for younger and future generations sitting in Cabinet to scrutinise existing and future policy and legislation through the lens of how it benefits the next generation. We also need an independent body to hold the government's feet to the fire. So how about an office for Intergenerational fairness? I coined the phrase youth triple lock last year because I wanted to focus attention on young people's needs and the need for some rebalancing. So I would suggest an above inflation student maintenance loan. And the Prime Minister hinted at this in a social media post with the Chancellor when he said that student loans are, quote, one to come back to.

I'd also suggest free bus passes and something on housing, which, as I stated earlier, was covered extensively by the Chancellor's excellent Budget. There remains a risk that the social contract with young people is fraying. So let's show that our Labour government is not slowing down, but is accelerating our efforts to empower young people. Our role is not just doing what will make us popular. With a plurality of mainly older voters. We need to rebalance things because investing more in our young people is in the best interests of our economy.

They are the innovators, the entrepreneurs, the workers, the business owners, the public
17:28
Peter Prinsley Portrait Dr Peter Prinsley MP (Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, Labour)
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servants, and much more of tomorrow. We must unleash their potential. But more importantly, it's the But more importantly, it's the moral thing to do. It's the fair thing to do. It's the labour thing to do. I commend the Budget for all to do. I commend the Budget for all its measures, particularly those regarding young people. As ever, measures to empower young people measures to empower young people are a down payment on the future and like all healthy investments, and like all healthy investments, regular, judicious and general and generous investment pays dividends in the long run.

And the ten year plan, I hope, is another opportunity to demonstrate this to

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the younger generation. Thank you Adam Dance. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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Thank you, Madam Speaker. Given the time constraints, I will keep my remarks as short as possible. While there are things that are really welcome in this Budget like business rate relief, energy cost relief, I do not think it meets the challenges my it meets the challenges my constituents in Yeovil are facing, let alone pave the way for the biggest challenges in a generation. biggest challenges in a generation. First, this government keeps saying it is going to deliver. For a start, rural communities have been completely overlooked. Again, £100 off most people's energy costs is great, although that is not means tested and matched to a broken council tax system.

But for us in rural Somerset, the biggest issue is there was no real help for heating oil, which has doubled in the last year. What we needed was an urgent price cap for heating oil. I've spoken to residents who have said to me that they are not getting heating oil at the moment, because they just cannot afford to heat their homes. This is unfair and the government need to help. There was also nothing in the Budget for farmers, the backbone of our rural economy, which just adds insult to injury given Labour has increased taxes on farmers, whilst also cutting the farming Budget in England by over £100 million and locking farmers out of funding by running applications for FFI as if they were selling Glastonbury tickets.

And believe me, I know how hard they are to get. That is not just bad for Somerset's economy. It threatens our food security at exactly the time we need to be strengthening it. That is why we Liberal Democrats have called for the farming Budget to be increased by £1 billion a year. More broadly, many big picture challenges which were missed in the Budget fail Yeovil constituency on defence that can just have, of course.
17:34
Brian Leishman Portrait Brian Leishman MP (Alloa and Grangemouth, Labour)
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Hon. Friend for giving way. And he's making an excellent case for rural communities on heating oil and farming and other things. Can I and farming and other things. Can I just add the failure of this government to extend the rural fuel duty scheme? I don't have buses duty scheme? I don't have buses that run to hospitals and to educational opportunities and jobs in my north Cornwall rural constituency. Does he agree with me constituency. Does he agree with me that the government missed an opportunity here to extend that scheme to help our constituents in rural areas?

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I totally agree with my hon. Friend, and that's one of the biggest issues we also have in Somerset is actually, even if there Somerset is actually, even if there is a bus, sometimes it's so delayed, it's four hours late and students it's four hours late and students can't get to college onto fence that the can has just been kicked down the road to the spending review next year. On how the review next year. On how the government plans to meet its spending commitment of 3.5% for GDP on defence yet again, that leaves many of the cutting edge defence firms that are the beating heart of Yeovil economy in uncertain times.

Similar. There was nothing in the Chancellor's speech on education when 70% of schools across England have had less funding in real terms than in 2010, when we have also got a growing send funding. Black hole investment in education is an investment in the future of this country and a surefire way to drive growth. So it's disappointing to see that funding solutions to this issue has also been kicked down the road to. One of the biggest issues impacting growth is how we do taxation. Business rate relief is great, but I do not know how many more of us have to call it the broken business rate system before the message gets through.

So many businesses have contacted me since the Budget saying it's great. You've you've you've helped some, but you've not helped us. We're at the point of closing our doors. Business rates need abolishing and replacing with commercial land owner Levy. But that is not all. Council tax is one of the biggest challenges raised by Yeovil constituents. With me, because the

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system is out of date and we need bold government action to change that. Unfortunately, the government

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Unfortunately, the government has decided not to raise rise to these challenges in this Budget, and the people Yeovil will continue and the people Yeovil will continue to suffer the consequences of this government's inaction.

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Margaret Mullane. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the final day of the Budget debate, a Budget that this government can be proud of a Labour Budget. A Budget that will deliver fresh hope for the future, and a Budget that will put £100 back into
17:38
Matt Turmaine Portrait Matt Turmaine MP (Watford, Labour)
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the pockets. 44,430 households in Dagenham and Rainham, whilst the Dagenham and Rainham, whilst the council tax rebate of £100 help with energy bills might not sound like much, the Energy Bills like much, the Energy Bills breathing space scheme, coupled with your government's other measures such as no VAT on measures such as no VAT on electricity till July 27th, the abolishing of standing charges on gas bills, capping new levies on gas bills, capping new levies on energy bills at 0% until 230, means that we are taking action to reduce household energy debt in every postcode.

With such a focus on making utilities affordable, I can't help but feel, hopefully, that the failing water companies who extort us for resources will one day be brought back into public ownership, finally ending the race to the bottom that Thatcherism started, where profit margins and shareholder bonuses are put above quality of service and the people that rely on it. Speaking on services and the fresh hope last week's Budget is set out, I must say, Madam Deputy Speaker, that I wholeheartedly welcome the move to finally open up Stratford International, providing Eurostar access in east London. I have no doubt that this investment will provide a much needed boost to all the local economies in some of the most deprived areas of the capital.

However, whilst this gives my constituents easier access to Europe, my constituents living at Beam Park in the south of my constituency are still waiting for the train to Fenchurch Street. In fact, residents have been. Park are still waiting for the train station, a train station which was promised new homeowners and renters by the last conservative government, only to have the plug pulled and promises broken. My helpful suggestion, Madam Deputy Speaker, is perhaps we should ask the last government to own that decision.

 Despite the absence of an announcement which would deliver for Beam Park. I remain tenacious
17:42
Steve Witherden Portrait Steve Witherden MP (Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, Labour)
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in my pursuit of the vital infrastructure that my constituents in Dagenham and Rainham were promised, and very much hope that, promised, and very much hope that, given the renewed focus on transport in London, that the 13.9 million shortfall to deliver this million shortfall to deliver this station can be found. Whilst my campaign for being part station campaign for being part station continues, my campaign to deliver a new and expanded emergency department for the Queen's Hospital in Romford, which serves my constituents, has been won. Thank you to a Labour government. We campaigned for 35 million and Madam Deputy Speaker, this Labour government, ahead of its landmark Budget, awarded.

Barking Havering, Redbridge £42 million to redesign the accident and emergency at Queen's Hospital. The party that built the NHS are now ending corridor care and delivering an NHS that are fit for the future. On the subject of health, it would be remiss of me not to mention environmental health, not least because of the rain and volcano, a burning historical landfill which blights the health of the community in part of my constituency. Given the sheer scale of historic landfills in the country, I was disappointed not to see reinvestment in the environment agents to help these problems.

But I am hopeful as the government transforms Britain, that I can continue ticking off my pledges from 2024. Madam Deputy Speaker, if any Ministers are listening, I've covered my wish list in this contribution. As the Member of Parliament for a working class constituency often described as London's Red wall. I was overjoyed to hear the Chancellor unveil plans to deliver paid paternity leave for self-employed workers. I'm honoured
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Rachel Blake Portrait Rachel Blake MP (Cities of London and Westminster, Labour )
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to serve under the hon. Member for Portsmouth North as Deputy Chair of the APPG for tradespeople, and this the APPG for tradespeople, and this policy will give fresh hope for plumbers, electricians, brickies and other tradesmen who will and other tradesmen who will benefit from paid maternity leave from April 2029, giving from April 2029, giving self-employed dads the opportunity to be at the start of family life when it really matters most. This is a real win for the work of the APPG, and it will make such a tangible difference to family lives in Dagenham and Rainham, which is home to thousands of tradespeople and small business owners.

Finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, I bring my contribution to a close. Very simply. As I started, there was a Budget. The government can be proud of a labour Budget, a Budget that delivers respite for today and fresh hope for the future. Thank

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you. Steff Aquarone. Speaker. I said of interest as a former

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I said of interest as a former county councillor, it's safe to say that I've not been inundated with that I've not been inundated with praise by email in this Budget. Credit for tackling the thorny issues that my constituents face. issues that my constituents face. Those eligible will, of course, welcome the £100 energy bill payment as a going concern towards their soaring bills, but for the their soaring bills, but for the more than 10,000 of my constituents reliant on heating oil, they'll wonder where they're going to find the rest of the often hundred or £500 price hike they've seen on their oil bills.

They'll also be asking why the government has cut VAT for those who rely solely on electricity, but is happy to rake in double the that receipts from others facing these soaring bills. Removing VAT on these would put another £50 back in the pockets of those filling 1000 litre tank. The government is benefiting from a VAT windfall. It's time they gave that back to the people suffering from these higher costs. But it's rural
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Sarah Smith Portrait Sarah Smith MP (Hyndburn, Labour)
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communities in general that are struggling from this Budget, especially the future of their especially the future of their local schools, which are close to crisis point in too many villages in north Norfolk. Earlier this year, in north Norfolk. Earlier this year, Corpusty Primary shut its school gates for the last time. It was heartbreaking for the families heartbreaking for the families affected. For the children who were losing the only school most had ever known. We fought tooth and ever known. We fought tooth and nail against that closure, unlike, I should say, either the conservative or reform administrations at County Hall who stood idly by.

I want anyone who'd listen that corpusty is the canary in the coal mine. It's fundamental. Challenges were not unique, and it was an indicator of a worrying trend that needs to change. I'm deeply fearful about what comes next, because I'm hearing more school leaders and parents telling me of their concerns about their local school. For all their best efforts, headteachers just can't make the books balance. It's not their fault they're being failed by a funding formula that simply doesn't appreciate the realities of rural life and the importance of rural schools to their communities. In these places, which are seeing a fall in the number of children and young people in their areas.

Schools are crying out for a funding package that can help them stay afloat and adapt to a difficult financial and demographic environment. They should feel reassured by the falling roles funding mechanism, which triggers a £140,000 payout into local authorities through the Dedicated schools grant. Whenever there's a drop of 10% year on year in an area's pupil census. But despite being the reason that this money is coming forward, there is no requirement for that money to be spent on those schools or the issues of falling rolls. It's clear both sides of this need to change their processes.

The government needs to be more prescriptive about ring fencing, and I'd argue that it's not an outlandish ask for falling rolls funding to be dedicated to falling rolls on their side. The local authority cannot
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Lola McEvoy Portrait Lola McEvoy MP (Darlington, Labour)
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just use this as another sticking plaster to cover educational funding crises without getting a funding crises without getting a grip on the schools crisis. We face challenging times in our rural communities. We lose the schools, communities. We lose the schools, we lose the working age population. If we don't fund rural schools If we don't fund rural schools properly, whole communities suffer. No local school means no viable place to live. For young families, place to live. For young families, that means no one of working age to do the inherently rural jobs in farming, but also the energy industry or defence and communities.

Without working age. People mean no one to staff the doctor's surgery or provide care, or even pour a cup of coffee on a Monday morning. We must act now if we want our cherished rural and coastal communities to flourish. Besides, if there's to be good growth in every postcode, there must be cross-governmental support to commit to rural small schools. It's not just education and economic growth. This government's goals in transport, in housing and climate change, in food security, even in defence all depend on a vibrant future for our rural communities. Yet this Budget measures are just another example of government working in silos, none of which are working for our rural areas.

It's time to re-establish hope for rural communities by backing small

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schools. Thank you. Michelle Scrogham. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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It's a pleasure to speak in the debate today on fresh hope for the future, and the title of today's debate could not be more timely. debate could not be more timely. Across the world, living through a period of uncertainty unlike anything many of us have anything many of us have experienced in our lifetimes, the challenges we face today are different to those faced by different to those faced by previous generations. Alongside the traditional military threats, we face cyber attacks, threats to our critical national infrastructure, hostile state activity and economic instability across the globe. In a world like that, national security cannot be an afterthought.

But in my constituency, this is something we've known for generations. It's the backbone of the economy and of our community. For many of us, defence runs in our blood and in our ancestry. But for too long, communities like mine were asked to believe conservative promises. We repeatedly were told that defence was the highest priority. Yet year after year we saw programmes
17:59
Laura Kyrke-Smith Portrait Laura Kyrke-Smith MP (Aylesbury, Labour)
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delayed, budgets squeezed and our industry and economy hanging in the balance. This disrupted the lives balance. This disrupted the lives of my constituents and undermined our national security. Conservatives claim that they are Conservatives claim that they are the party of defence. They stand here today, Madam Deputy Speaker, and make more promises that they and make more promises that they can't fulfil. By the time they left office. The National Audit Office was warning of an unaffordable was warning of an unaffordable equipment programme running up a bill of tens of billions that they couldn't pay in. All those failed promises have a cost.

It impacts investment decisions, training and development opportunities, supply chain, industry and most critically, confidence for working families that they can put food on the table. That's why this Budget matters. It builds on previous work from the government to support our national security. It moves us away from the short term thinking that characterised the conservative years. The full funding of the Defence Investment Plan gives industry workers and communities the confidence that this government's commitments are backed by resources, not just rhetoric. Yeah, fully funding the dip sends a powerful message, one that my constituents are well aware of.

By investing in defence, you support and empower our communities, our businesses and our national security. Through Defence Investment Plan, we will deliver stronger military capability, protect our at sea nuclear deterrent through building up to 12 Aukus submarines, and help supply chain businesses all over the country reach their full potential. Part of how we're doing this is the Innovative Defence Financing Task Force. For a long time, I've called for a financing and procurement system for the modern age. Too many SMEs are held back by complicated bidding processes, timeline pressures and a risk averse culture. This task force is the first step in addressing these issues.

Like many of my colleagues, I firmly believe that our priority is for to
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Dave Robertson Portrait Dave Robertson MP (Lichfield, Labour)
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reach 3% of GDP on defence spending. That is why I was glad to hear the That is why I was glad to hear the Chancellor last week confirm that these details will be set out at next year's spending review. This government is prioritising investment in defence and ensuring the path to 3% is built on sound the path to 3% is built on sound financial planning rather than soundbites. Hope doesn't only come in the form of long term investment, in the form of long term investment, though. It also comes in the form of addressing the issues that are more small scale but no less important.

I want to thank the government for listening on an issue that I recently raised with the Prime Minister just two weeks ago. We spoke in this chamber about my constituent, Ian, who requires access to a life extending medicine after the June announcement that the application of VAT would be reformed, the drug's developer withdrew from the scheme. Ian was left with no remaining options. With nowhere left to turn, his family were left with an awful choice. Find the money to fund the huge cost themselves, or even more unfairly, lose remaining time with their loved one. That's why I welcome the government's announcement on VAT donated medicines.

Creating an exemption for medicines is a practical and compassionate measure that will ensure that life changing treatments can reach those who need them the most. For Ian, this Budget has proved something priceless. Hope for his health, hope that government is listening and that's what links this Budget together. Whether it's the apprentice in Barrow looking towards a skilled career in our defence industry, the local business planning to expand with confidence because of long term investment or a constituent gaining access to life extending medication. This Budget is about creating the conditions for a better future. Barrow and Furness is always stepped up when our country is needed us.

This Budget demonstrates that. In turn, this government is stepping up for Barrow and Furness. Thank you, Madam Chair. Sara Bird.
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Richard Fuller Portrait Richard Fuller MP (North Bedfordshire, Conservative)
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There's been quite a lot of chat about future generations throughout this Budget, and even though I feel like I've aged a lot over the last four months in this place, I want to speak today on behalf of a younger generation and more importantly, the young people who live in my constituency. So though he's not in his place anymore, I'd like the Secretary of State to put himself in the shoes of a young person in my constituency, a young person who has come to me in the last few days to tell me that not hopeful, but fearful is how they are feeling.

Since the Chancellor's announcement last week. I'd like the Secretary of State to imagine that he is a young person who has been to university, who has worked hard, who has made personal sacrifices to do everything that they were told they were supposed to do. I'd like the Secretary of State to understand what it feels like to be a 21 year old today, to try and see how much breathing space there really is for entire generations of young people who feel more hopeless now than they ever have before, who have been let down time and time again by successive UK governments.

Young people specifically in my constituency, who, despite Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, were dragged out against their will and so have come of age in broken Brexit Britain. So let's imagine that this young person in my constituency studied for their undergraduate degree in an English or Welsh university and took out the standard tuition and maintenance loan. This young person might now have £60,000 worth of debt, which they will watch rise year on year even after they start paying it off. Because this government has changed the terms of a contract that young people signed in good faith, and because the Chancellor has failed to reverse the crucial repayment threshold freeze implemented by his predecessor.

Young people face a reality where many of them will be paying off their student loans for the entirety of their working life. And many young people, my peers included, have come and said that they feel that they will never be debt free. And so I want the Secretary of State to understand how that feels to be a young person at the beginning of their career, staring at that much insecurity and financial instability. Now, in Scotland, we don't punish people for pursuing higher education, but our young people who choose to study elsewhere in the UK are now facing consequences that were previously unimaginable.

Debts which have moved past stifling and are now simply oppressive. And this to me speaks of a government who is comfortable in specifically targeting low income graduates for tax revenue and squeezing young people's disposable income, making it impossible for them to save. I want the Secretary of State to understand that if this young person does find a job, let's say in hospitality, where Labour has refused to cut VAT and they are paid minimum wage, so this young person now earns enough to be making student loan repayments 9% on their earnings, which, coupled with the ever rising cost of living, means that there is almost no chance that young people are able to make savings and are likely finding it near impossible to get to the end of every month.

And because of Labour's personal allowance freeze, this young person will see a larger chunk of their income eaten by taxes without gaining any purchasing power. So I want the Secretary of State to imagine how it feels to be a young person on payday who, instead of feeling financially secure, feels despair. Madam Deputy Speaker many young people across Scotland, across my constituency and further afield, cannot rely on financial support from their family. So if this young person is renting a flat, they are likely going to see their energy bills increase again in January, taking the total to over £1,000 more than Labour initially promised, dwarfing any minuscule changes made by announcements last week.

And in Scotland, this young person may be one of the 800,000 Scots now paying higher gas bills to subsidise English taxpayers, or one of the 150,000 Scots relying on heating oil who receive no support at all for this cost. As this Labour government so often forgets about rural communities now, Madam Deputy Speaker, this young person will be watching as the. As the Resolution Foundation predicts that the average households. Disposable income is set to fall by £1,000. And for a young person already struggling to put fuel in their car, that is frankly a terrifying concept for a young person at the cusp of their adult life who has done nothing but work hard and is staring in the face of job insecurity, the fear of never receiving a State Pension, the certainty that they will never be able to afford a house, lifelong student debt hanging over their head, and monthly costs that are completely consumed.

This Budget is a cold, hard confirmation that this new iteration of a Labour government is no better than the last. Madam Deputy Speaker, young people in Scotland deserve to feel hopeful. They deserve to have ample opportunities to learn, to save, to work. And this is not what they get from this labour Budget.
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Emma Reynolds Portrait Rt Hon Emma Reynolds MP, The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)
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Perran Moon Madam Deputy Speaker And it will come as no surprise to members that I am going to talk members that I am going to talk largely about Cornwall. This Budget brings welcome hope to Cornwall with a bespoke devolution deal on a Cornwall only strategic authority footprint, respecting our unique, unique identity and without the futility of a mayor sitting in parallel alongside one single unitary authority. That fresh hope comes with £2.7 million of good growth funding, a share of the £150 million uplift to capacity funding and local control of the new overnight visitor levy.

Cornwall welcomes millions of visitors, but our communities carry that pressure without receiving the investment needed to manage it. Properly designed, the levy could provide a revenue stream to support the funding of infrastructure needed to unlock Cornish reindustrialisation and building fresh hope across our communities. But the government must now recognise that as a single foundation strategic authority, it is a pointless waste of taxpayers money to install an elected mayor in parallel to a single authority as an ideological quid pro quo for accessing extra funding and powers. I will.

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He will understand that Cornwall would be quite similar to Lincolnshire in some of the challenges it faces, particularly in the delivery of public services in the delivery of public services in a scattered rural area. Would he join the calls for more action on heating oil? Many of his constituents will be dependent on constituents will be dependent on heating oil as they are in my constituency. The precious little about it in the Budget. I hope that

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about it in the Budget. I hope that we can create a cross-party consensus that more must be done. I thank him for his intervention, but I would like to remind him that in the Budget there was a support package, which I will talk about a little bit later in my in my speech, but I do welcome the government's focus on fiscal prudence and economic competence and determination to crowd in private investment to rebuild our economy. Since 2024, the government has doubled the firepower of our financial institutions to more than 200 billion. Cornwall has seen the value of anchor investments in our tin, lithium and tungsten industries.

Additional capital for the National Wealth Fund sends a signal of confidence in Cornwall's critical minerals and their contribution to Britain's economic, security and energy resilience. Cornwall has vast untapped economic potential through our internationally renowned resources of critical minerals. And while the Conservatives ignored these resources and abandoned Cornwall, this government is taking welcome action to bring back Cornish tin mining and bring back fresh hope to our communities. But the government must go further and faster to ensure that these vast resources are not offshored by competitive nations, to the detriment of UK plc. Now there is also a risk that Cornwall will be disadvantaged, precisely because we have chosen a model of devolution that that reflects our national minority status.

A key offer of foundation strategic authorities has been business rates retention, but Cornwall Council has had this since 2017. Mayoral strategic authorities can also access 1.5 billion borrowing facility and negotiate strategic place partnerships with Homes England, which Cornwall cannot currently do either. With 25,000 homes on the social housing register. Getting the deal and its associated funding will be transformative for Cornish house building and we will not stop demanding this. In Camborne and Redruth and Hale, house prices have risen almost 18% in five years, compared with 6.4% across England and Wales. Young people increasingly feel that owning a home where they grew up is beyond their reach.

So the first time buyer, Isa and the 4.7 billion, your first home scheme do offer fresh hope alongside the 100% council tax premium on empty homes, they could make home ownership possible again for a new generation of Cornish families on energy. This Budget fully demonstrates how this side is on. This government is on the side of remote communities like ours in Cornwall. 1 in 7 households in Camborne-redruth and Hayle relies on heating oil. Compare this with 1 in 29 nationally, with heating oil prices up 82% since the start of the Iran war. The two year suspension of tariffs on kerosene is welcomed, but I hope this is a first step as opposed to a final destination.

The same is true for the £100 household energy payment for over 43,000 households. In my Camborne and Redruth and Hale constituency, the additional £100 million for targeted energy support, the commitment to abolish domestic gas standing charges and the extension of zero VAT on electricity to July. I do, however, have some concerns in my capacity as chair of the APPG on electric vehicles about the signals we are sending to the automotive sector sector. The continued uncertainty over the Zev mandate risks weakening investment in Britain's position in export markets, charging 20% VAT on public charge points, penalises drivers without a driveway or a home charger.

And although an eventual road tax for EVs is is understandable, introducing it in 2028 through an unwieldy scheme risked discouraging adoption when demand needs to accelerate. But all things considered, this Budget is welcome for Cornwall. Each of the wins, from heating oil to energy bills, from housing to devolution, comes alongside vast improvement to the fundamentals of the British economy. Since the last election. Despite strong global headwinds, the government is restoring credibility and competence to the British economy and we are creating breathing space for our constituents and rebuilding our reputation with our closest neighbours, our allies and our friends in the European Union.

It is the in the British national interest to do so, rather than the withering disdain and distrust of the conservative government, this government is engaging proactively,

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and I thoroughly welcome that. Suella Braverman thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. 1 million. 1 million. That's the number of young people who are not in education, people who are not in education, employment or training. Youth employment or training. Youth unemployment stands at 14%. This is a scandal. It's a crisis. And far a scandal. It's a crisis. And far from giving them hope, this Budget, frankly, throws young people under a bus because it's fundamentally unfair.

We're losing a generation. It's unfair to that 16 year old who's finished their GCSEs and wants to start working, but
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None Portrait Division: Budget Resolutions Motion 3: Income Tax (Default Property & Savings Rates)
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currently faces zero opportunities to find an apprenticeship or to learn a skill. This Budget is unfair and offers no hope. That 21 year old, who's done the right year old, who's done the right thing, studied for a degree but come out with a qualification which come out with a qualification which isn't opening any doors and has instead saddled them with crippling instead saddled them with crippling debt and actually directing them to the welfare office to claim out of work benefits. And it's unfair, this Budget on the British taxpayer, who currently lays out £22 billion a year in student loan payments, the taxpayer, who will see hundreds of billions of pounds never repaid back a taxpayer who faces chronic shortages in our labour market, in particular in the NHS, in construction or in hospitality.

And so we've got a lost generation and this Budget does nothing for our young people. Yes I will.

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I'm very grateful to him for giving way. And she will know that giving way. And she will know that we need to recalibrate our economy around a higher level of skills. around a higher level of skills. Too many young people are directed into academic education. I use academic in the broadest sense, academic in the broadest sense, only to find myself jobless and too few that the opportunity to learn something vocational, technical, something vocational, technical, practical, which will give them the chance to get a job and not take on huge debts.

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The gentleman is absolutely right, and it's exactly the point I'm about to make. How did we get I'm about to make. How did we get to this youth unemployment crisis? Well, for the last 30 years, Well, for the last 30 years, starting with Tony Blair, we've sold one promise to young people that they need to get a degree, that they need to get a degree, regardless of what it is or where it's from, and they'll be set up for life. But for so many young for life. But for so many young people today, that has been exposed as a lie.

We've got 700,000 graduates who are currently unemployed, 400,000 of whom are claiming welfare. Average graduate debt stands at £50,000. Average graduate salaries are falling and graduate hiring is disappearing. So for many of these young people, they've not taken out a student loan. They've been saddled with a life sentence. No wonder they can't start saving, buying a house, getting married, or thinking of starting a family. They are being crippled by the system, and this Budget does nothing to support them.

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On that point. I will. One of the aspects of the Budget which will make a huge difference which will make a huge difference to young people in my. Is the two 2.5 billion investment in a partnership with Rolls Royce. It's great for civil and military great for civil and military aviation will be used to create a lot of jobs for young people in my constituency. Does she welcome that

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constituency. Does she welcome that measure or would she rather we've not done it? Well, I'm. Afraid it's a drop in the ocean compared to the enormity the ocean compared to the enormity of the challenge that we face. And I'll come on to skills and apprenticeships in one minute, because I just want to dwell on how we got to this great university scam, as I call it at the moment. Now we have some of the best universities in the country and I will always defend them. But for many of our young people, our universities are failing them and they are offering awful value for money.

Some of the courses are not worth the paper that they're written on. Is it right, really? That and vice Chancellors are earning huge salaries and yet offering awful job prospects. Does do some of these vice Chancellors really deserve their 200,000 or 300,000 salaries when their institutions are leading, are offering job prospects for only 40% of their graduates? No. Do we really need courses in politics, sexuality and gender, where the vice Chancellor on over £200,000? No. All while we have gaps in our NHS construction and hospitality. So that's why Reform Government would actually deal with this issue.

We'd reduce the student loan Budget by 20%, and we'd invest those billion saved into actually helping our country, training up British doctors, training up British nurses, and scrapping the arbitrary cap on medical training places. And let me say a word about immigration, because that has been a big factor. Many of these universities have got fat on foreign students. I'm afraid I've got to say it. The last conservative government opened the floodgates to international students. It's something I started to reverse when I was Home Secretary. And as a result, universities have been selling immigration, not education.

And as a consequence, as I said earlier, for every young Brit that is employed in this country, there are 27 young foreign workers who are also employed. I'm sorry, I don't have much time and I will try to come back to you, but I can't, and that is locking our young people out of the labour market. Under a reform government, we would put British workers at the front of the queue for British jobs. Now, that used to be common sense. Today. That's controversial going and moving on next to apprenticeships and skills. I'm afraid this Budget is conspicuously silent on investing in skills and apprenticeships and the vocational trades.

The number of apprenticeships has almost halved in the last decade, particularly

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amongst small and medium sized businesses and for entry level. Go on then. I will. The right hon. Lady for giving

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The right hon. Lady for giving way. She's spoken about apprenticeships and essentially said that nothing has been done. But would she acknowledge that in the Budget speech? My right hon. Friend specifically spoke about how Friend specifically spoke about how today's Budget provides 100 million for a local apprenticeship service to match young people, with local to match young people, with local firms funded from savings in welfare, fraud and error would she acknowledged that.

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Is that 100 million is a drop is a small amount compared. As I said to your colleague, the gentleman's colleague, to. To the enormity of the challenge that is required. the challenge that is required. Employers are not taking on young people. That is a fact and is borne people. That is a fact and is borne out by the statistics. Employers are not taking on apprentices. Why? Because it's become too expensive Because it's become too expensive for them. It's become heavily regulated and bureaucratic, and there are now two overly rigid

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requirements on training. Can you remind me what her government did and she did while
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None Portrait Division: Budget Resolutions Motion 7: Increase In Rate Of Banking Surcharge For Temporary Period
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government did and she did while she was in government to increase apprenticeships? >> Well, I mean, I think you're on

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Well, I mean, I think you're on a weak point there. It was actually the last conservative government that started the apprenticeship movement, and they peaked at 600,000 at around 2016. I was very pleased to champion apprenticeships pleased to champion apprenticeships in my constituency, and there have been thousands of young people who've taken up apprenticeships in Fareham and Waterlooville, but that number has been halved. We're now at about 300,000 apprentices, compared to a peak of 600,000. So, as I said, a reform UK government would introduce an apprenticeship wage credit. We would pay small and medium sized enterprises 30% of an apprenticeship apprentices salary to help them with the cost of taking on a new person, investing in our future and investing in young people.

I want to live in a country where a young person, regardless of where they come from, regardless of what their parents did, regardless of the kind of school that they went to. Is able to enjoy, is able to enjoy opportunities to prosper, to work hard and thrive in their lives. I'm afraid this Budget offers precious little to our young people. Zero hope to the next generation, and is a real disappointment for our young people who are crying out for hope and opportunity. And that is why I'll be voting against this Budget

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tonight. Deputy Speaker, and I welcome the opportunity to speak in today's the opportunity to speak in today's debate on fresh hope for the future, including for the businesses on our high streets and my constituents who rely on them. Last week's who rely on them. Last week's Budget, delivered by a Labour Chancellor, was the Budget that people in my constituency need. people in my constituency need. They know that our high streets cannot become hubs for criminal activity, whilst legitimate businesses are priced out and run down. They also know that our high streets cannot remain clusters for vape shops and gambling premises, and they know that our high streets cannot continue to withstand these hits without serious ramifications for the future of our communities up and down this country.

I am proud that this Labour government is making the right choices by putting place over profiteering, profiteering. Too many of the constituents and businesses that I represent feel that day in, day out, their finances are being stretched beyond what's palatable or fair. I understand it, the Prime Minister understands it, and what is clear by this Budget is that the Chancellor understands it. My constituency of Heywood and Middleton North has so much potential, its people are determined to see a sense of pride, vibrancy and purpose return to their neighbourhoods. And this is where I want to focus my remarks today on the high streets that have been eroded because of a sustained lack of investment, but which can prosper again, provide much needed respite for responsible businesses and with power directed to leaders with the means to turn things around.

That is what I heard from the Budget last week. The £1 billion package announced by this Chancellor will mean that businesses in Heywood and Middleton North will see their business rates frozen, reduced or cut to zero. This measure will apply to around 600 properties in my borough, and we are also taking more businesses out of paying business rates by increasing small business rate relief thresholds for retail, hospitality and leisure premises. Businesses that enrich our communities, getting the focus that they deserve. And there is a choice at the heart of this how we differentiate between businesses which strengthen our high streets and those that weaken them.

For years now, my constituents have seen vape shops and similar premises pop up en masse and corrode the ties between local people and the high streets they once knew. And that is why I fully support this Labour Chancellor in not extending business rates relief to those businesses and instead throwing our full backing behind those who are instead building back our towns piece by piece. And this is alongside the steps announced by the government earlier in the year. We are determined to revoke the Gambling Act's outdated aim to permit rule, which currently restricts the ability of councils to refuse new betting shops, even where there are strong local concerns.

Additional planning permission will be required for vape shops to finally give local people and councils a say over where they open, and to stop them from opening near schools, and this is alongside doubling the maximum duration of closure orders for dodgy shops to give investigators more time to gather evidence and secure prosecutions. Something that I have been for for some time, because I have seen the scars that these illicit operations have forced to watch authorities scramble as these businesses skirt accountability and reopen weeks later. It's time we sided with good businesses and made it clear that good practice is the only practice that will be tolerated.

There is a moral argument here that we must engage with and must win. Residents, shoppers and businesses in Heywood and Middleton North are all completely justified in not wanting the continued proliferation of these shops. They instead want to see civic ties and family ties and social ties restored on our high streets, rather than ample profits for endless vendors that exploit working classes, working class communities, and rundown public health, and chip away at the communities they once knew. And this has been made clear not only in the Budget but in the publication of last week's cross-government strategy, Hope on the High Street, including £210 million to transform derelict buildings into the new anchors of our high streets.

In closing, Madam Deputy Speaker, I'd like to put on my record my thanks to businesses, business leaders and workers, each of which are pillars that are holding up the high streets of Heywood and Middleton North. Each week, I visit businesses from Harewood Market through to Middleton Shopping Centre, and the difference that they are making each day to the towns that I represent is immense. From Tilly's Tea Room and Picardo in Harewood to Waffle House in Middleton and Honey Cafe on Barshaw, these are the businesses that we need to be supporting, and we should demonstrate to them that their contribution to our communities is both recognised and valued.

I'm proud to stand here today and speak on their behalf, and I am proud to stand here as part of a Labour

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government that is well and truly on their side. Thank you. Wera Hobhouse thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I would like to Deputy Speaker. I would like to address the barriers businesses are facing right now that make them not facing right now that make them not so hopeful about the future. The South West is home to many innovative businesses that employ innovative businesses that employ local people and generate growth across the region. Take drift,
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None Portrait Division: Budget Resolutions Motion 8: Captial Gains Tax (Business Asset Disposal Relief)
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across the region. Take drift, energy and love more. Based in Bath, Drift Energy is developing a first of a kind sailing vessel that harvests wind energy on the move, this groundbreaking innovator could reduce and would reduce UK reliance on imported fossil fuels, increase domestic green hydrogen capacity and open new manufacturing and maritime innovation opportunities. CBI economics has estimated that by 2032, Drift Energy could deliver nearly £200 million in growth through operations in the southwest alone. Take Loughmore, a south west business that has developed a first of a kind, battery enabled alternative to the gas combi boiler.

It currently employs 42 people and is forecast to double to 80 within the next nine months, making it a significant local employer. With the right support and conditions, these businesses could generate real growth in postcodes across the South West. The government says it will cut business costs and support innovation, but the measures in this Budget do not go anywhere near far enough in addressing the financial challenges these businesses currently face. The Budget fails to address a significant funding gap between where seed investment funds and where venture funds feel comfortable to begin investing in a business.

As a financial markets continue to suffer, the risk appetite of these venture funds decreases, meaning companies must go to a significantly greater maturity before they can be funded. From these sources. The innovative loans and grant schemes, which have been separated into regional districts and agencies like the Clean Growth Funds, were meant to. To plug this gap. However, they're now approaching investments in a similar vein as commercial venture capital does. They're looking for greater and greater reduction of risk. This leaves innovative businesses that develop first of a kind technology forced to seek funds from international sources, often with the requirement that operations are moved away from the original region.

Madam Deputy Speaker these businesses want to employ local people, yet this Budget does not address government policies. Failure to support business to mass manufacture in Britain, because there are no local incentives that would reduce costs and make them competitive with international manufacturers. British businesses moving abroad is not good growth in every postcode. It leaves a future uncertain for British businesses. They make it harder to employ local people, harder to trade with local businesses, easier to move abroad and ultimately prevent that growth that we all want. I would also like to address, very briefly, the unwelcome and short sighted cuts to the Warm Homes plan and the boiler upgrade schemes.

This is a decision of profound, profound concern not only for our climate commitment, but also for the basic health, security and well-being of many households across the country. As fossil fuel prices surge, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is cutting bills for people across the country, employing thousands of people and improving the resilience of homes by breaking the link with oil and gas. The boiler upgrade scheme is more than a grant to help households. It is creating a UK industry that can deliver cheaper heating, skilled jobs, greater energy independence and, yes, growth. I urge the government to reverse this disastrous decision and immediately restore full funding to our warm home commitments.

Madam Deputy Speaker, we all want growth. I have pointed out a few things that make growth very, very difficult for businesses across the southwest and across the

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country, and I hope the government will look at that. Thank you. Ian Byrne Deputy.

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Ian Byrne Deputy. Speaker For many. Of my constituents in Liverpool West Derby, the cost of living crisis means a daily struggle to crisis means a daily struggle to keep the heating on, pay the rent, put food on the table. I welcome any measures that ease that any measures that ease that struggle and the direction of travel from the Budget last week was very welcome, but breathing space, Madam Deputy Speaker, was nowhere near enough. When there's 14 million people struggling to put a meal on the table tonight, people need to see a credible plan to improve their living standards and tackle the shameful poverty and hunger we see across this country.

The Trussell Trust report that between 2020 425 and 2627, the number of people experiencing severe hardship grew by 500,000. That included 115,000 children, and that would have been more. But thankfully, we scrap the two child cap. We cannot ask families to keep making sacrifices while offering them so little prospect of things getting better. And we see the unrest across Europe as a result of this feeling of hopelessness, with politics and politicians. The Prime Minister has thankfully and rightly identified the damage caused by 40 years of neoliberal politics. Reversing that damage requires true radical action on the scale that matches the hardships our communities face, and nowhere is that damage highlighted more than around our kitchen tables.

In September, the Right to Food UK Commission published its final report. We heard evidence from across the United Kingdom, from communities speaking directly to us. What we heard should really shame this house. Parents missing meals so children can heat people in work relying on food banks, families choosing between heating their homes and feeding themselves. And a community session in London, a stone's throw from this chamber,
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one woman put it in three words rent eats. First, the rent is paid, then the energy bills, then the debts. Food is whatever is left. That is the plight of millions in all our communities in this place. The commission's central finding is clear people are going hungry because they cannot afford the food that is available low wages, inadequate social security and the rising cost of essentials are leaving families without enough to live on. These are failures of policy that require political action. The question is no longer whether we can afford the right to food. It's whether we can afford to carry on without one.

And Liverpool, a woman giving evidence, said simply A right to food is a right to exist. And Madam Deputy Speaker, she was spot on because we are already paying for failure. Updated analysis from the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission puts the wider economic and social costs of Britain's unhealthy food system at 298 billion a year, up 268 billion from two years. Area that includes more than 100 billion in direct costs across healthcare, social care, welfare, across the enormous cost of lost productivity and diminished quality of life. Those figures cover the wider unhealthy food system tackling food insecurity, making healthy diets affordable must be absolutely central to a government's mission.

We pay to our taxes, our public services, our health and opportunities denied to our children. The question is whether we carry on accepting these costs or invest in preventing them. Alongside the wider reforms, we need. The Right to food UK commissioner set out an initial package of practical measures universal free school meals, holiday food provision, proper funding for community kitchens and hubs. Our initial costs are fully costed with funding identified through tax reforms put forward by Lord procedure. We have set out what needs to be done, what it would cost and how it could be paid for.

Whether the government chooses to act is now a question of political will. The commission's modelling estimates around 100 billion in wider economic and social benefits over two decades. That includes improvements in health, education and people's ability to participate in society. Those calculations are outcomes that every member of nation wants. Children are having to school ready to learn. People parents able to feed their families without skipping meals, fewer people developing avoidable illnesses. These are the investments that can improve and lengthen people's lives. That is why the commission calls for the statutory rights of food backed by resources, clear duties and accountability.

It means clear legal duties on government and independent scrutiny, so departments cannot pass responsibility between themselves by families continue to go hungry. Members across this House have joined with me in calling for the right to food. In the next King's speech, I asked the government to listen and work with the commission and commit to the legislation needed to deliver lasting change. Madam Deputy Speaker, hunger really is a political choice. The government has the power and responsibility to end it and give

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millions in every postcode. Hope again in politics. Thank you. Here, here, here. Peter Swallow thank.

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Peter Swallow thank. You, Madam Deputy Speaker. This is a Budget which puts community first. It's a Budget for families first. It's a Budget for families who will benefit with support on energy costs over the cold winter for much loved high street for much loved high street businesses with cuts to business rates, and with the announcement of a Thames Valley mayoral strategic authority. It's a Budget that delivers devolution, too, so that decisions that affect Bracknell Forest and our wider region can be taken in our region. I've heard from countless families across Bracknell Forest about the cost of living pressures they are facing because of skyrocketing fuel and energy costs as a result of the war in Iran.

So I strongly welcome the announcement of a new £2.6 billion energy bills breathing space scheme, which will provide £100 direct support for over three 30,000 families in Bracknell Forest, helping them to keep their homes warm this winter. I also welcome the extension of the 0% rate of VAT on electricity until July 2027, and reforms will remove gas standing charges so that people are only charged for what they use. I know that the prices we have seen at the pumps in recent months are also a huge source of anxiety for many across Bracknell Forest, and I'm pleased that the government has recognised the pressures on motorists caused by increasing fuel prices, and has extended the £0.05 cut on fuel duty to July 27th, as well as freezing rates and making the more generous mileage rates for both employees and self-employed people who are using their own vehicles for work permanent.

These are measures which will have real impact on households across Bracknell Forest, especially over the coming winter months. Supporting households is an essential and extremely welcome priority in this Budget. But I also welcome the clear signals this government has given to local businesses wonderful local cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops drive our local economy. But I've heard from too many who are struggling in this challenging environment and are forced to consider raising prices or cutting staff. And for this reason, I was delighted to see the Chancellor announce that he will increase small business rates, relief thresholds for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties, meaning around 47% of all RH L properties in the South East will pay no business rates at

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all. I'd be delighted. Gentleman is right about small businesses, particularly small retail businesses, playing a retail businesses, playing a pivotal role in the health of communities. And he's right to the government has done the right thing government has done the right thing in the way he described. But those businesses are also suffering from online competition and edge of town online competition and edge of town and out of town development, which is taking footfall away from town and city centres. Would he support and city centres. Would he support a call for government to be tougher on that kind of edge of town

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development, so we can concentrate footfall where it's needed most? Well. Absolutely, and. That's why I welcome the measure.

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That's why I welcome the measure. In this government. It means a direct tax cut for over 250 small businesses in Bracknell Forest, businesses in Bracknell Forest, directly funded by increasing VAT compliance on those online compliance on those online marketplaces, because it is right that that the small businesses that thrive on Crowthorne High Street, thrive on Crowthorne High Street, in my constituency, across Bracknell, across Sandhurst, do not
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face unfair competition from the big online marketplaces. And that's a decision that this government has rightly made in this Budget. Madam Deputy Speaker, this government does not just talk about growth in every postcode. It recognises that our high streets are at the heart of achieving that growth. And on that note, growth in every postcode means recognising the unique barriers holding back growth in every region of the UK. For the South East, one of the biggest barriers to regional growth has been the slow progress of devolution, and that's why I'm delighted that this Budget also commits to a strategic authority for the Thames Valley.

Nobody knows the specific local and regional challenges we face better than our own local community, and no one is better placed to solve them. Devolution will bring more powers for Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon, more funding for our region and a more joined up approach on regional transport skills and public services. It's not just about local business in the South East. We can proudly say we are home to some of our most well loved and most critical national businesses from Waitrose, whose headquarters are in my constituency, to our defence sector, where the south east was estimated to contribute £3.6 billion to the economy in 2025.

That's not to mention that we are home to one of our greatest and most innovative British assets, our life sciences sector. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, I welcome the opportunities that a more regional approach to our economy will create. This is a Budget which backs our region to do what it does best drive growth across the Thames Valley and across the whole of the UK. All of these measures will strengthen our social fabric, boost our local economies and build resilient communities in these challenging times. But Madam Deputy Speaker, there is no community without security. As war continues to rage in Ukraine and in the Middle East, and as hostile actors swamp our information sphere and sow division in our society, we cannot afford to to delay in delivering the support we need for defence.

And that's why it's so important that the Chancellor has put forward a Budget that delivers fully on our commitment to fund the Defence Investment Plan, and ensures we remain on track for the NATO target for defence spending to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035, alongside plans for a new multilateral defence mechanism and additional investment through the National Wealth Fund and British Business Bank. This Budget treats our security with the gravity it deserves. After decades of underfunding by the party opposite, this is a Budget with a clear demonstration that this government has listened to the concerns of families and businesses in Bracknell Forest and has decided to act on them.

It meets the challenge of today with pragmatism and the promise of tomorrow with ambition. I know it won't solve all of the challenges facing businesses and families in Bracknell Forest, but

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it is a gosh darn good start. Andy MacNae thank you, Deputy Speaker and it's a pleasure to speak in this Budget debate. One, A Budget that was delivered in Budget that was delivered in extraordinarily difficult global economic climates with limited fiscal headroom. I do believe that fiscal headroom. I do believe that it will be remembered as both radical, as important and important, prioritising cheaper energy and focusing on prevention, which I think is a massive step. Fiscal devolution, supporting high streets entrepreneurs are all significant measures that will ultimately bring significant benefits to the residents of Rossendale and Darwen, particularly now that Lancashire is the only opportunity to join the mayoral pathway.

And just on that, I'll take the opportunity to urge urge the leadership of Lancashire County Council to listen to community, businesses and community leaders and finally agree to a mayor and grasp the huge opportunities that this government has offered. More broadly, the Chancellor has announced immediate support with the need for breathing space, with long term reforms needed to build a global economy for the 21st century. At the heart of this, the Budget lays the foundations of a reindustrialisation strategy, capable of bringing good jobs to places that need them most. This vision resonates powerfully in Rossendale and Darwen and across the UK.

Making more things in more places means secure, well-paid jobs and more resilient country. It's why we established the Reindustrialisation research group, the ERG, bringing together over 90 Labour MPs to support the Prime Minister's vision and help translate it into action, and it's good to see that the Budget has addressed some of the key questions that have been raised ever since the Prime Minister first championed the idea. First and foremost is clarity on objectives. It's important because if we judge economic success only through national GDP, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past, pursuing the easiest growth while overlooking the towns and communities that have been left on the sidelines for far too long.

Instead, Reindustrialisation must deliver good growth everywhere, spreading jobs, hope and opportunity across the country. And the Chancellor has been clear that industrial reindustrialisation is a long word is also essential to national resilience. We must once again produce the things of steel, fuels, chemicals and other things that we need to be secure in a turbulent world. And in understanding this, we see that Reindustrialisation is far more than just a rebrand of the modern industrial strategy. Supporting high growth economic clusters is vital, but it cannot be the whole answer. As the Red book itself says, Reindustrialisation means more good jobs around the country.

It means more towns and cities, making it, innovating and having a stronger role in the
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national economy. This is a UK wide project to build the great British businesses of the future, whatever and wherever they may be, combining our our proud manufacturing heritage with world class innovation, creativity, research and development. It means tackling the constraints, holding energy back and the Budget is clear on what. These are high energy costs, limited access to finance, procurement and so on. Address needs at a national level, whilst drawing on the power of devolution. Supporting businesses through powerful local partnerships provides a comprehensive approach to unleashing the potential of British manufacturers, and we need to take up this challenge with urgency because we must recognise that right now we are losing good businesses, ones that could compete and win if only they were on a level playing field.

So the first step towards Reindustrialisation must be to halt deindustrialisation, amongst other things. This means further action on industrial energy costs. We did call for an extension to British Industry Competitiveness scheme to all manufacturing companies in the Budget, and I realise the constraints the Chancellor was under. But we must recognise this is unfinished business and we need to continue to look at all options for immediate

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measures. I will. I thank my hon. Friend for giving way. He's given a really powerful speech about the importance of reindustrialising our communities and halting deindustrialisation. Will he agree with me that we need to do everything we can to get the everything we can to get the Ceramics Impact Fund that was designed by the previous government to support that ceramics sector out of the door and into businesses

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of the door and into businesses where it can make a difference as soon as possible. I absolutely would. Ceramics is one of those industries, along with, one of those industries, along with, say, steel, chemicals, fuels and so on, that is foundational to our economy, and it's part of our national resilience, part of our national story. And it's vital that we maintain this in the interests of a safe, secure and stable country. So I'd absolutely agree with him. And in doing all this, we need the structure to effectively deliver Reindustrialisation Reindustrialisation, we need to be very clear, requires a whole of government approach.

It needs dedicated capacity and power to drive implementation and policy, co-designed with businesses and trade unions. And finally, we need to turn ambition into measurable national objectives. The proposed a target of 1 million additional jobs in production by 2035. That would help rebalance our economy and ensure that prosperity is felt in every part of Britain. The forthcoming ten year plan is an opportunity to make that vision real. I urge the government to build on this Budget and work with the businesses and trade unions to back British manufacturing and ensure we deliver good jobs in every community.

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Yeah. Martin Rose.

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Madam Deputy Speaker, I start by drawing the House's attention to my interest as chair of the all party parliamentary group for events. I parliamentary group for events. I welcome the Budget from the Chancellor, and I particularly welcome the Chancellor's announcement that the UK government announcement that the UK government will provide £6 million for the Scottish Events Campus. The SCC in my constituency of Glasgow North. my constituency of Glasgow North. This is a vote of confidence in the SCC in Glasgow and the events sector more generally. Hope for the future grounded in proven past and current success, the SCC plays an essential part in underpinning Glasgow and Scotland's position as a global events and conference destination, and this funding recognises that today the SCC generates more than £605 million in economic value, welcomes 2.5 million visitors a year and supports 5300 jobs.

This Budget investment will help multiply that economic and social contribution. It can help unlock private investment in the campuses, further development and create more jobs, whilst supporting the wider Glasgow and Scottish and UK economies. Given the success in hosting Cop26 and events for both of Glasgow's Commonwealth Games, this investment will help secure Scotland's position as an ideal location for future international conferences, exhibitions and live entertainment. It also helps shape a city that treats the River Clyde as a cultural and economic asset. The success of the Riverside Museum and the government Partick Bridge is a testament to what can be achieved when the Clyde is recognised as an asset.

This Labour government continues to prove through investments like the Local Growth Fund and now this funding, that it takes seriously the task of making Glasgow City Region a prosperous and attractive place to live and do business. I also welcome the budget's recognition that the central belt of Scotland, from the West coast to the East Coast, is home to vital industries and world leading research. Yesterday evening I had the privilege to host the University of Glasgow here in Parliament to mark their 575 years. They certainly have a long and successful track record, but they also have the research and innovation to drive economic growth now and in the future.

I hope this funding for the SCC will help show how important the campus is to that wider regional picture. However, to ensure that the SCC remains competitive against our international rivals, we must continue to invest in the city's skills and infrastructure for tomorrow. Also, the up and coming visitor economy growth strategy must deliver a more cohesive, cross-government approach to supporting business events. As chair of the all party parliamentary Group for events, I see first hand how the events industry benefits the wider economy. VisitScotland estimates that the Scottish events industry brings £6.1 billion to the Scottish economy each year.

Some of the biggest economic benefits from the events sector comes not from one off sporting or music events, but from business events such as conferences and trade shows. These events tend to last longer, so they do spend more time in the destination, use more hotels and support more local restaurants, bars and cafes. Industry estimates indicate that UK conferences and meetings generated £22.5 billion for the national economy in 2025, up from 19.3 billion in 2024. I very much welcome the specific commitment in the Budget to invest in the Scottish events campus, both as a significant investment in this key project in Glasgow, but also as a clear indication from the Chancellor that this government acknowledges the economic importance of the events sector across the UK.

This is a Budget that is focussed on the livelihoods of today and the economy of

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tomorrow. Doctor Peter Prinsley.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. So I welcome much of what the Chancellor of the Exchequer has Chancellor of the Exchequer has said in the Budget, but I will speak tonight of our NHS. But we

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will not grow our economy if we are not well now. Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust is the mental health trust

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Trust is the mental health trust that serves my constituents in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, and it has been transformed thanks to the brilliant staff and inspired leadership. And I'd like to thank all of them. Now, last week I learned that some of the teams have been early adopters of AI, using it to transcribe patient consultations, more time with the patients, and less time staring at computers. Imagine that. Now, some of us remain suspicious of AI in healthcare, but who here has not asked their phone about a symptom or a medical worry? Now, many GPS already use AI assisted triage to tackle the dreaded 8:00 rush.

So I am pleased to hear that we will fund the technology which will increasingly shape our health service. Let us embrace it, not fear it. I welcome the government's approach to healthcare, but much, of course, remains to be done. Too many of our patients are being asked to be just that patient. We have record NHS staffing and resources since the pandemic. Yet activity has not increased proportionately. Why is that? And how much genuinely improves people's health. For we know that health depends on housing, wealth, and much else besides falling life expectancy in some of our communities and the problems in maternity services demand urgent political attention.

Now, I welcome the Chancellor's announcement for funding of surgical robots. Having heard how they're helping patients at the West Suffolk Hospital. But frankly, if I were asked where I would invest taxpayers money, my answer would be primary care and neighbourhood health centres. Certainly.

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Of course, I respect the hon. Gentleman. Professional expertise, which I don't share. But I have to which I don't share. But I have to say to him that much of what he's said so far is counterintuitive. My said so far is counterintuitive. My constituents tell me what they want from the health service is personal interaction to form a relationship interaction to form a relationship with a with a GP or a surgeon or a specialist, which is meaningful. On specialist, which is meaningful. On that basis. Trust is built not on

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machines and AI and robots. I'm grateful for that intervention. And if the hon. Member would simply listen to the next part of my speech, he may be reassured. So what I say is let us reassured. So what I say is let us build on existing GP partnerships, shifting resources from hospitals shifting resources from hospitals into communities centres which are open in the evening with specialist nurses, mental health professionals nurses, mental health professionals and pharmacists patients, places where the patients know their doctors and the doctors know their patients. So for me.

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Hon. Member, I'm delighted to hear that as a medical professional, he recognises the importance of he recognises the importance of primary care. We spend a fraction of the NHS Budget on primary care by comparison to to chronic care. by comparison to to chronic care. And just last night I was hosting a reception for the Independent Pharmaceutical Association, and I Pharmaceutical Association, and I know they'll be grateful for his words. Thank you very much.

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Thank you. I'm grateful to my hon. Friend's intervention. So keeping people healthy and at home wherever possible, should be supported by our developing National Care Service. Simple but transformative and I am delighted that our government will fund this now. In Suffolk, seven new NHS dental practices have been announced, including two in Bury St Edmunds, and I applaud you. Applaud the organisation Toothless in Suffolk for its advocacy. But the dental contract must be reformed. Why has this been delayed with a new dental school at the UEA? That's the University of East Anglia. We must ensure graduates choose NHS dentistry rather than private practice.

It was a privilege to serve on the Committee stage of our health Bill. I welcome the single patient record alongside the retention of Healthwatch and Health Service safety investigation body. Patient voices and independent safety investigations must remain central. Some of our political opponents suggest that the NHS has had its day and advocate for an insurance based system. I profoundly disagree. Hey now. My father joined the NHS at its foundation in 1948, having served as an RAF medical officer. I spent more than 40 years as a surgeon, and my son now works as an A&E doctor here in London.

78 years of continuous family service to the NHS. So perhaps the NHS is in my DNA. It's certainly in the DNA of the of the Labour Party. Finally, something about medical research. We celebrate Jenna Lister and Fleming. But let us remember the extraordinary British scientists of my lifetime, the Nobel Prize winners, Crick, Hodgkin, Milstein nurse Sulston Hassabis, whose AlphaFold work revolutionised protein structure prediction. And, of course, there are many others, including my hon. Friend's grandfather, who is unsung, Harold Hopkins. Their achievements must remind us why supporting scientific research must remain a national priority. So I remain a great optimist for our NHS.

Fresh hope for the future. But we must cherish our NHS. We must invest in it and protect it. Because if we ever lost

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our NHS, it's my last sentence. He wants to ask. You about. Volunteer intervene. I thank.

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I thank. The hon. Member. In cherishing the NHS. Does he agree with me that the single patient record of which he speaks patient record of which he speaks so eloquently must be delivered by sovereign British technology? Yes.

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sovereign British technology? Yes. Well, I am not. I thank you for your. I thank the hon. Member for his intervention, and I do not his intervention, and I do not claim to be an expert on the selection of software programmes for the single patient record, but I do believe that a single patient record will be transformative. But what I would like to say, if we ever lost our NHS, we would never,

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ever get it back. Thank you. Hear, hear. Brian Leishman. Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. Now, this Budget is predicated on inspiring hope and building a fairer, more equal building a fairer, more equal society. I welcome that. I support that. And crucially, to deliver that. And crucially, to deliver that, I think we need to understand and learn from the past. After World War One, the country became more inward looking, adopting the economics of austerity led to low growth, mass unemployment, the general strike and the Great Depression. Two decades later, we had another war. But after World War Two, that Labour government really did grasp the politics and the economics of hope.

We created a social security system. We built the NHS, we nationalised our minds, steel, railways, even the Bank of England all as we emerged from the ravages of war that saw towns and cities bombed and half a million of our people dead. We don't even need to look as far back as that to see the politics of hope in action. The 1974 Labour Party manifesto said it would tackle the severe economic problems of the day, with democratic socialist policies. The aim to secure a fundamental and irreversible shift in the balance of power and wealth in favour of working class people and their families.

Five decades on, we again need that level of ambition because we live in significant times. The most terrifying set of questions we have in this place is defence. We constantly hear we've got to get to 5%. Let's cut welfare to do it. Let's issue war bonds. Let's get ready for war. We're already at war. And with the clamour for increased defence spending and defending our way of life, it often doesn't get mentioned that nearly 4 million
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None Portrait Division: Budget Resolutions Motion 86: High Value Council Tax Surcharge
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people use food banks. We have 14.5 million people living in food insecurity. So with the Be Ready campaign encouraging people to stockpile three days worth of non-perishable food, how do we think people living in food insecurity will manage that? Where in your list of priorities is buying a power bank or a wind up radio? When you're having the debate of whether to put your heating on or to eat a meal? Because I regularly hear constituents tell me there is too much month for the end of their money. Doctors tell me how under-resourced the health service is.

Teachers tell me that kids are turning up to school exhausted from hunger. Community groups and churches across Alloa and Grangemouth tell me that they are starting to put on warm spaces again. As we head into winter. So politicians and media commentators talking about people making sacrifices, I find frankly insulting. Manager residents are expected to have 55 years of good health, making it one of the lower healthy life expectancy regions in Scotland. In Grangemouth, people generally die younger compared to the Falkirk Council area and the Scottish national average. Madam Deputy Speaker, this Budget has committed billions more for military spending that will inevitably go to private capital and arms manufacturers, all while the cost of living crisis rages on and public services are still under the most pressure.

Going forward, the political choice that we face is weapons in war or wages and welfare. I think we should bear that in mind. And the 14.5 million people who are hungry. When we talk

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about hope. Accommodate all backbenchers. Speaking limit has now been dropped

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Speaking limit has now been dropped to four minutes and I call Matt Turmaine. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Budget introduced by this government on Wednesday of last week is billed as delivering breathing space for today and fresh breathing space for today and fresh hope for tomorrow. These are indeed noble sentiments from a Chancellor and Government determined to make things better for working people, things better for working people, even in these most difficult of times. As war rages in the Middle East and Ukraine, none of us knows when the conflicts will end, nor the scale of their impact on our country and economy.

What the people of Watford know is that the cost of living crisis is still very real. Certainly, when I talk to residents in my constituency, the cost of day to day living is a tough challenge for many. Since the 2024 Labour landslide, Chancellors have tried to make things better for people fixing the foundations of our economy and delivering growth in the toughest of times. That is why, Madam Deputy Speaker, I so warmly welcome the Chancellor's Budget. My right hon. Friend has managed to deliver something for most people, and for that, I and my fellow residents will be grateful.

Britain has had the joint highest growth in the G7 this year. That's brilliant news. But what matters to the great British public is feeling the effects of that growth in their pockets. And to that end, Madam Deputy Speaker, the announcements announcements last week will show that Watford wins with Labour £100 energy bill, relief for those in council tax bands. A to D will help my fellow residents a real cash injection to help those with those energy bills. 37,140 households in Watford will benefit from this. Further, the extension of the zero VAT rating on electricity bills through to the summer of next year means help for those through those cold winter and spring months, which will be welcome indeed.

My right hon. Friend's plan to abolish the standing charge on gas bills will deliver further financial help, as will the continued freeze in fuel duty. Watford residents are car users, Madam Deputy Speaker And so this will help them, just as the £2 cap on bus fares coming in January will help those relying on public transport. And the first rail fare freeze in 30 years is already delivering for those on the train network. Businesses on the high street will welcome the small business rates relief threshold for retail, hospitality and leisure, helping around half of those in the sector in our region of the country.

 For those who don't benefit the exemption, they will see a real terms freeze in business rates for 2018. Tight in Watford. This will help 662 businesses and a further 373 in Hertsmere, in which the bushy part of my constituency is located. These measures will bring vibrancy back to the high street. The new devolution arrangements mean Hertfordshire, the county in which my constituency is based, will become a mayoral strategic authority and this will help unlock further the potential of the town and the county to deliver a brighter future, with more jobs and opportunities than before. Housing remains a challenge across the country, but in a town like Watford, the cost of housing can be prohibitive, with people who grew up in the area sometimes being forced out of the area owing to high prices.

And that's why I welcome the Your First Home initiative, helping first time buyers in a constituency like mine will really help people make a home in Watford. Madam Deputy Speaker, I became involved in the campaign for Better Paternity Rights, organised by the Dad Shift after being elected to this place, and I was particularly pleased to see the hard working campaign achieve a victory. With the Chancellor's move to grant paternity pay to self-employed dads. This is definitely another move that will help families welcome a new member of a very different variety in Watford, and that the other end of the age spectrum.

I also welcome the end of the cliff edge for those delivering care. I have also full Throatedly supported the government's ambition to halve violence against women and girls and welcome the measures designed to help in this respect. Madam Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, this was a Budget designed to provide breathing space for today and fresh hope for tomorrow. It delivers that for Watford for the wider community,

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and I wholeheartedly support it. Yeah.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. This Budget is aimed squarely at people struggling with the cost of people struggling with the cost of living good. In a year when 1 in 5 UK households have experienced food insecurity and there are 9 million people in severe hardship, according to the Trussell Trust. according to the Trussell Trust. The government should make no bones about putting them first. It has identified where household budgets are being pinched the most and redistributed wealth accordingly, slashing bills for 80% of households in England is no small thing, and I am glad that the Welsh Government has since announced it will use the consequential funding to extend this benefits to my constituents in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr.

A high proportion of my constituents are reliant on heating oil, so I especially welcome that the payment will be applicable for those off the gas grid, which, when combined with the scrapping of import tariffs on kerosene, could amount to a real reduction in heating costs. Let us hope, though, that the additional £450 million this Budget allocates to the Welsh Government for public services is spent wisely at a time when three out of four of Montgomeryshire hospitals are facing the loss of all of their beds, all of their X-ray services and all of their minor injuries units.

But returning to tariffs, I applaud the removal from a wide range of everyday goods. It's appalling to hear these measures spoken of as small fry by the benches opposite, when it's the poorest in our society that are affected most by such price rises. In providing that bit of breathing space, the 3.9% rise to the minimum wage is another positive step. The surest way to improve our food security, though, is to produce more at home, and that means supporting our farmers. And so I welcome the suspension of import tariffs on fertiliser and the extension of reduced duties for red diesel.

These measures will make a difference to the agricultural sector, which has taken a body blow this year in the form of the Iran war, driving up import costs compounded by a summer of severe droughts and wildfires, further compounded by an outbreak of bluetongue. Threats to our national security are compounding, too, from climate change, from AI enabled cyber attacks from a new age of inter-state conflict. But we cannot forget about the basics. As an island nation, we must have domestic resilience in food production. You'll have to forgive me, Madam Deputy Speaker, but food security is national security.

Let me end on fiscal devolution. The experience in many parts of Wales is that devolution is unfinished business. Powers have been devolved to the Senate, but not to our regions and communities such as North East Wales or the marches. I'm happy to hear that English local authorities will start to retain more business rates from next year, but I would like to see greater detail as to how the government is working with the devolved administrations to realise the benefits of regional governance across the UK. This government, like any government, will be judged on how it will improve the material conditions of hard working people.

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It is that target on which this Budget is rightly focussed. Yeah. Blake.

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Blake. Thank you, Madam. Deputy Speaker. I know that it's unconventional

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I know that it's unconventional to crowdsource one's speech on the Budget, but I did happen to do my annual Budget Q&A last night, and annual Budget Q&A last night, and it was absolutely a joyful experience, an online Budget Q&A. And the key themes that were raised And the key themes that were raised with me are, is this Budget bold enough, and what does it do for our communities here in the cities of London and Westminster? And you'll be delighted and perhaps unsurprised to know that those key questions raised by my own constituents are very similar to those that are that are raised here in the chamber.

And it's really clear to me, as it is to them, that this government cannot control every challenge or beyond our shores, but we can seek stability and we can strengthen our resilience and support those most in need. And the foundations for a more stable economy were established by the choices made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds West and Pudsey. When she made the tough choices to stabilise our economy, what we need now is for families to need to have the confidence that they can play a key role in the future. Businesses need confidence to invest, expand and create jobs, and our economy needs the confidence that public finances are being managed responsibly.

And that's why I think this government's commitment to fiscal discipline and credible fiscal rules is so important. Economic credibility is not an abstract concept discussed only in Westminster in this chamber. It affects mortgage rates, investment decisions, business confidence, household budgets and increasingly, whether people can afford to own a home of their own. That's in stark contrast to the damaging effects of the mini Budget that the opposition benches want us to forget. But we will very much remember. And sadly, the day to day budgets of our constituents remember, this government rightly takes a responsible approach, and I particularly welcome those measures that are supporting enterprise investment and job creation.

My constituency, the cities of London and Westminster, has more jobs than people in it. And we see every day the contribution that businesses make to our economy, from small and independent firms to globally recognised companies. Economic security must also include housing security for far too many people, particularly in London, people cannot afford a home of their own. And what was particularly important to me in this Budget was the announcement of £432 million of additional investment to stabilise the support to those people who are most vulnerable. It was an absolute honour to welcome the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to my constituency on Monday, where we recognised the long standing work of frontline, rough sleeping outreach workers.

This was a long standing call from those people who work in the sector to recognise the skilled work that they do every single day to help the most vulnerable, and I'm really proud that this government has made that decision to make long term investment in keeping people off the streets. Not only is it the right decision, the compassionate decision, I will not give way. We're going to be hopefully moving to a vote soon. And but my but I would like to make really clear this is the right moral decision, the right compassionate decision. It aligns with our values.

It should align with everybody's values. It's also the right economic decision. It is not in the interests of public spending to allow people to live on the streets. And I pay tribute to the work of connection at Saint Martin's, who hosted us that day. We've shown the risks that the opposition benches are prepared to take with our economy, and this government is taking a responsible approach to the economy, which enables us to make those investments in some of the most vulnerable in society. I commend this Budget to the House, and I commend this responsible approach to fiscal discipline, which allows us to make those important political choices

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fantastic. Sarah Smith thank you, Madam. Deputy Speaker. There is much to welcome in this Budget for my constituents in Hyndburn and Haslingden. Some of the measures include £100 for 41,000 of my include £100 for 41,000 of my residents that will benefit from this immediate support for their energy bills. As we seek to tackle energy bills. As we seek to tackle the cost of energy crisis, the expansion of paid parental leave to self-employed people, which will self-employed people, which will help around 90 new families in my patch every single year, and the business rates relief for businesses with rateable values of £18,000 or less, which builds upon and goes further than the previously announced plans to increase business rates relief on pubs from April of 2027.

I know how hard our pub and shop owners work and the huge contribution they make to our local communities, and I must give a particular shout out to my local, the White Bull in Oswaldtwistle, who have recently undertaken plans to extend their dining area and where I'd be delighted. Delighted to treat the Minister to lunch. If they were to come to visit, I'd strongly recommend the Hungarian goulash. However, in my remarks I will focus on two main substantive issues in this Budget. Firstly, I welcome the commitment to a Mayor of Lancashire. This Labour government have made it clear that it is firmly on the table for Lancashire to have that mayor.

And at my business event last week, with over 130 leaders from across East Lancashire, business leaders were clear that they want this to happen as quickly as possible. Therefore, it is time for reform led Lancashire County Council to stop delaying and to get behind this mayor for Lancashire, which is key to unlocking our economic potential. But even better, we don't have to wait for a mayor for us to get going. Following the calls from many colleagues on this side of the House, including my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley and Rossendale and Darwen, the Budget includes a commitment to capacity and capability funding for areas who are progressing towards a mayoral strategic authority, which will put £7.7 million of funding into Lancashire from next year.

Alongside this, there is the development of the local growth funds a total of £80 million for non mayoral areas to support priority projects that will support their economic growth and development. Secondly, I want to turn to what this Budget does for entrepreneurs. Some of these measures include the increases to the trading allowance. A proposed Young Entrepreneurs allowance and £200 million of additional funding for female founders. Furthermore, there's a significant set of plans to support early stage and scale up funding, with a commitment of an extra £5 billion to the British Business Bank, £450 million of which is allocated to a new venture debt product to help innovative firms access capital without immediate equity dilution.

Over the last year, I have been raising with Ministers the challenge faced by these businesses during their pre-commercialization so-called Valley of death, and the opportunity to help low carbon technology businesses in Hyndburn and East Lancashire, who face this barrier through funding the red cap proposals that I have shared. Red cap provide businesses who are trying to produce new products for their first identified customer, and I hope that through these combined announcements, there may be ways of funding Redcar. So I urge Ministers to meet with me to work out how we can overcome some of the siloed approaches within government to unlock this and to unlock the economic growth, not just in Hyndburn in Lancashire, but also in other parts of the country.

This Budget does go a long way to helping my constituents through these difficult global headwinds, as well as outlining a broader ambition to reshape our energy markets and the economy for the future in a way that delivers good growth in every postcode and hope in every heart. Devolution is the chance for Lancashire to take control of our own future and to stop having to come cap in hand to Westminster. And while we work towards this, I will continue to work with Ministers to deliver the jobs, opportunities and growth that

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Hyndburn desperately needs here. Lola McEvoy. Let me go. Thank you speaker.

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Let me go. Thank you speaker. I'm the Member of Parliament for Darlington, the home of number 11 North and the Darlington Economic Campus. So I just want to put on record my thanks to Beth and Joe and Laura and all of the civil and Laura and all of the civil servants who work round the clock to make sure that we could deliver this Budget, the Chancellor's first this Budget, the Chancellor's first Budget. So the Treasury campus in Darlington was the brainchild of the previous government, and it was funded by this government to the tune of £118 million for a brand new hub.

So it is proof that the best interventions from this place do garner cross-party support. So I'm sure that everyone across the House in this chamber will agree with investing record amounts in defence to support our world leading armed forces and defence industry, backing British inventors, innovators and founders. So if you've got a great idea here, we will make sure you can succeed here. And £100 cash back in January for energy bills for 45,000 households in Darlington and hundreds of thousands more across the country, much needed and well received hope for our high streets. That's a freeze on business rates and an increase in the business rate relief threshold to £18,000.

This will benefit 222 business rates in Darlington businesses in Darlington, and I'm particularly pleased to see that these measures are paid for by the global e-marketplaces, and also from taking the relief from those pesky vape shops in the country. And I'm sure their representatives across the House can all support that. What seems to divide this House is how we should deliver it. And it is right that this government, under this Chancellor, continues its commitment to fiscal responsibility. We must reduce the amount we're paying on debt interest, and I welcome the fact that those who made record profits off global insecurity that is driven down the cost of living, driven down cost of living pressures on households across our country, pay a little bit more through the bank levy.

The truth remains that we won't spend more than we earn. But despite record investment, incredible world leading growth sectors and an army of grafters, yes, in every postcode we are getting battered by global storms. That is not the fault of the party opposite, but the severity of the impact we feel is. So I welcome this budget's ring fencing of preventative preventative policies and services. Prevention should be ring fenced in its funding, in its funding, and I welcome that. If the last government had diverted the money that it saved in the short term cuts into upgrading the grid or building new nuclear or building new renewables to create energy security, or building new hospitals or building council homes, or building any homes, or building roads or building railways, or indeed investing in our armed forces.

Perhaps then they'd still be trusted with an ounce of public money, but instead they proved to a whole generation that they do not and should not have the keys to Whitehall. They oversaw some of the worst business deals on record, incentivising hotel use by private contractors, housing people seeking asylum, outsourcing our pensions, our social care, our post failing to prepare for the pandemic, then crashing the economy, leading to the fastest annual fall in living standards since records began. So yes, this government has more to do, and I welcome this Chancellor and his Budget and the myriad of interventions he's made that are aimed at protecting our economy, protecting our industry and

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protecting our security. I will give way. I ask I thank my hon. Friend for

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I ask I thank my hon. Friend for giving way. Does she agree that we don't need to choose between cheaper and cleaner energy, that the two can go in harmony? And one the two can go in harmony? And one of the ways in which that's going to be happening is by the abolition of gas standing charges, which will of gas standing charges, which will save 23 million homes, £45 on average. And that's just some of the good things that this Labour government is doing to not just

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government is doing to not just tackle our climate crisis, but to put more money into people's pockets. I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. I absolutely agree with him. The standing charge policy is something that has come up on the doorstep and has really had cut through, so I'm delighted to see and welcome that intervention on the House. So Darlington yes, is the home to number 11 North? Yes. It's the home to the first world's first passenger railway. Yes, it's the home to pease pudding and soon to be the home to a brand new multi-million pound Stem subject training centre, backed with £16 million from the last Budget, backed by industry and £5 million of pride in place funding.

Yeah, we do have all that, but we're way more than all of those things. We're a test case for good growth and we are bucking the national trend. A resilient, investable ecosystem. I grew up in a part of Darlington that was historically

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called Hopetown. We had hope 200 years ago, and we hope again. Hey.

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Hey. Laura Laura Kyrke-Smith. Here.

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Here. Much of the discussion around the Budget has been focussed on the national level, and rightly so. But for my constituents, the true test for my constituents, the true test is whether life in Aylesbury and the villages feels any different, whether the decisions in the Budget translate into thriving local businesses, stronger communities and more confidence in our futures. I was out knocking on doors at the weekend and one lady said to me, this town is miserable now, isn't it? Which always pains me to hear, but she was talking about waking up on a Saturday. She doesn't head into Aylesbury.

She'll go over to Tring or Wendover, where she can park cheaply and easily and find all the shops and cafes she needs. And in some ways she has a point. Over the last decade or two, we've lost many of the shops and pubs and cafes that we used to have, but I know that our town has huge strengths and potential, and I think this Labour government's Budget is one that helps us to start to turn a corner. And that's what I'll focus on today, because the fact is that our towns don't thrive by accident. They rely on entrepreneurs prepared to take risks.

Family businesses that have served their communities for generations, and independent retailers who give our town centres that character and identity. And these are not simply economic actors. They're often the same people who are sponsoring local sports clubs and community events. I think, for example, of the long partnership between Express Labels and Aylesbury United, and they're helping young people get into work. So if we're serious about the future of our high streets, we have to back these businesses to succeed and we have to do that nationally. We have to do that locally, as Aylesbury Town Council does very well.

I've spoken to many businesses who tell me that business rates remain one of their biggest cost pressures. It's something that the brilliant Buckinghamshire Business First organisation has raised with me too, so I welcome the decision to expand small business rates relief and to take thousands more local firms out of business rates altogether. Across Buckinghamshire, 2000 businesses will now be paying no business rates at all. And for these small businesses who are trying to invest to take on staff, this makes a real difference. I also welcome that real terms freeze in business rates bills for the next two years for all our retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, and I know that the additional 20% relief for pubs, social clubs and most live music venues will be welcomed by many constituents who have written to me about this too.

I also welcome the focus in the Budget on the support for entrepreneurs and early start ups. We should be making it easier for people with a business idea to take that first step, which is why the decision to triple the tax free trading allowance from 1000 to £3000 is really important. Whether someone's testing a new business idea, turning a hobby into a source of income, or exploring self-employment for the first time, this measure helps to remove barriers and encourages enterprise, and I'm really pleased to see the introduction of the Young Entrepreneurs Allowance to help those young people trying to get into work.

I also wanted to mention and celebrate the further support for female entrepreneurs in the Budget through the new scale up programme for female founders and the additional backing from the British Business Bank. I know we've got many brilliant entrepreneurial women in Aylesbury, I think, for example, of Charisse Dorrit at the Polka, a digital marketing agency, and we should absolutely be on their side. Helping our businesses to flourish is, of course, just one part of the transformation that I want to see in our town centre and on our village high streets, from creating more spaces for young people to improving our green spaces, from improving public transport to sorting out parking, there is much more to do.

But backing the businesses who are the beating heart of our towns and villages is a great place to start. And if anyone doubts that change is possible, then take a walk along the High Street opposite Vale Park because for eight years, residents have been campaigning to remove the ugly and dangerous scaffolding which blocked the pavement on this main route into town, and I've been pleased to support them. And finally, last week, we won. You may ask, Madam Deputy Speaker, what's the deal with the pile of scaffolding at this late stage in the debate? But what was supposed to be a temporary fix became over eight years, a sign of how little Buckinghamshire Council seemed to care about our town.

But it's gone and we've proven that we can start to change things, and I'm hopeful about what's next.

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The final. Backbencher, Dave Robertson.

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Backbencher, Dave Robertson. Always a little bit worried when they cheer because I'm last and can, though I join colleagues in the though I join colleagues in the House recognising and supporting the important measures in the Budget, which will give people across Lichfield, Burntwood and the across Lichfield, Burntwood and the villages a place I call home. Valuable breathing space. Whether that's the 34,790 households across my constituency who will receive £100 direct into their bank account in January because of this Budget that comes on top of the removal of VAT from energy bills, the return of the £2 bus fare, the promise to get rid of standing charges on gas.

The Haulier businesses, supported by the delay to the fuel escalator. We could go on and on and on. Now any of those individual changes on their own will not be the end of the cost of living crisis. But I am already hearing people from back home who are all so happy that this government understand the importance of giving them that breathing space in their personal finances. Can I also turn to the changes to small business rates relief announced by the Chancellor? Those changes in this Budget will mean that many businesses in our town and city centres and in our villages will be lifted out of paying business rates at all, and many more will see a smaller bill at Sankey's Corner, the town in my constituency, 15 premises in that town centre will be taking out of that bill, paying that bill at all.

That's a huge number of shops there who will now have more money to put back into their businesses, and the community haven't been able to get the total bill about what will be saved there. But it's looking like an investment into that community of anywhere between 50 and £100,000 per year, forever. That's a real investment in the high street in Burntwood by this government. Similarly, in the village high street of Fradley, of around a dozen shops there, four will no longer be paying business rates at all, and a further four will have their bills cut.

Because of this Budget. On top of this, across Lichfield and East Staffordshire, 764 retail hospitality businesses will see their rate frozen in cash terms because of decisions made by this Labour government. I'm also really pleased to see the government pressing ahead with plans for devolution across Staffordshire and Stoke, whilst the previous government pushed power and funding into the West Midlands conurbation and the combined authority in the East Midlands, it gave a cold shoulder to the county to the north. This government is prepared to step up and give our county the powers and drive the economic growth to bring good jobs across our area.

Just yesterday, I spoke to the principal of South Staffordshire College about the importance of getting those powers to where they need to be, so that our skills training can meet the needs of our local area, and especially in rural areas of my constituency and the wider county. The economy needs workers and making sure those workers have the skills they need is something so important to areas like Staffordshire, and I am excited to get those decisions and skills made in the right places. There are a few other points I did want to pick up, but in the interest of time, I do want to turn to the Miners Pension Scheme and British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

The pension schemes for former coal miners and mine workers have been so poorly set up for so long. I am very pleased that this government has again moved even closer to delivering the justice that coalfield communities like mine in Burntwood, Handsacre and the surrounding areas deserve. The end of the Treasury grabbing half of the scheme surpluses should be applauded. The end of the standstill clause so that bonus pensions can be guaranteed should be applauded. The previous return of the investment reserve. So the people who earned it should be applauded. All of these steps for communities should be applauded, and it simply would not have happened without a Labour government.

However, that last remaining piece of that jigsaw is the final reserve the guarantors fund needs to happen. The commitment from the Chancellor to move quickly on this, and from the Secretary of State, that we should expect that to be weeks, not months this week have been really welcome, but we cannot wait. Miners have already waited for far too long. Every day miners leave the scheme. Every day we lose people and we cannot afford to wait any longer. We must push that because it's their money. They earned it. And this Labour government needs to make sure we do what we should

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always do and stand up for our mining communities. I call the shadow Minister if

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you're ready. Richard Fuller. Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah. Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I would like to thank all honourable and right hon. Members who have taken a part in Members who have taken a part in this debate over the last four days, and in particular, the over 40 and in particular, the over 40 members who have spoken in the debate today. And if I may, I just mention a few on this side of the House for their contributions. My hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest talked importantly about the issues of protecting the greenbelt.

 My hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip and Pinner talked about the fact that this was one of the most centralising governments. Despite the rhetoric, the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland made a beautiful speech about looking for a chair for his wife, and talked about the delivery charges that penalise people in rural areas. The hon. Member my right hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills talked about the importance of business confidence and the fact that it has been in negative territory under this government for seven months. My hon. Friend the Member for Droitwich and Evesham talked about the importance of job losses because of Labour's decisions, and made the absolutely true point that if Labour MPs understood economics, they wouldn't be socialists.

The Member for Bicester and Woodstock made an important point about competition for grid connectivity in his constituency, which is a matter across the country. And my right hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and the Deepings made a reference to John Lennon, which was a cultural reference about two centuries more modern than I was expecting him to to make. We had a series of excellent speeches on our side and some interesting speeches on the government side, too, trying to pick through the parts of the Budget to talk about. But I would like just to point out that the first speech by the hon.

Lady, the Member for Erith and Thamesmead. She is also a Select Committee chair, and I think in her speech, demonstrated what is best about the Select Committee system here. Yes, she is a Labour MP, but she will stand up for all MPs in the way that she holds this government to account. From our side of the House, there has been a consistent message that this Budget has left the British people facing higher inflation, higher interest rates, greater borrowing and more debt than was promised last year. That this Budget will leave families worse off, not better off.

So, Madam Deputy Speaker, can I welcome the Chief Secretary to the Treasury? Here we are, two working people. Did I get did I get that right? This was a Budget of fiddly bits. According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, a nothing Budget, according to the CBI, remarkable for its lack of action. According to the Resolution Foundation, big in size but small in ambition. According to the Institute for government, they're not wrong. The most surprising aspect of this kick the can down the road Budget is the debate managed to last four days. After four days of debate and a week of scrutiny.

The abiding sense is this was a Budget of missed opportunities, a missed opportunity to demonstrate that we are serious about defence, a missed opportunity to get people off welfare and into work, a missed opportunity to spell out the tough decisions needed to kerb public spending, eliminate the deficit and cut our debts. A missed opportunity to support young people waiting, wanting to fulfil their potential, but finding it hard to get work or worried about their debts. Even the Prime Minister, even the Prime Minister, sees this as a missed opportunity, lamenting that it is not, quote, ideal.

I mean, how bad does a Budget have to be for the Prime Minister to disown it before we've even voted on it? Madam Deputy Speaker? They say, Madam Deputy Speaker, now we have it. Now we have it from Labour MPs themselves. This Budget is as bad as Liz Truss's Budget. That's true. The trouble is exactly. The point is, Madam Deputy Speaker, that Liz Truss's period in office was short and sharp and over in a moment. The problem with this Labour government is the pain is long and we're still stuck with it. Madam Deputy Speaker and on defence, my hon.

Friend, my right hon. Friend the Member for Wetherby and Easingwold spoke yesterday of the genuine threat of war. Just days ago, the government told us to prepare for war in a thousand days, but at the Budget, the Chancellor said he'd need more time to work out how to fund defence. So let's get this straight. The commitment to spend 3% on defence was a matter of principle for the Chancellor in the summer, but by this Budget it had become a matter of inconvenience. How can anyone trust his word? He says he has a target for 3%, but no commitment and no plans.

The chair of the Defence Select Committee, the hon. Member for Slough, called that lamentable and he is right. But opening the debate on Thursday, the defence Secretary said he didn't care, didn't care about the views of the defence select chair. What an arrogant dismissal from a Minister. Barely 15 weeks into the job. No one in this Parliament has a monopoly of wisdom, least of all him, the OBR said. Spending will increase by over 100 billion to exceed 430 billion by the end of the forecast period, but the Budget had no plans to bring the ballooning welfare bill under control, and the Chancellor seemed confused, a little lost.

In his speech last Wednesday, he said, quote, as the Prime Minister, I both said, we will bring down the welfare bill and we will do it in a Labour way. The next day on radio four, when asked if the welfare bill would be reduced before the next election, the Chancellor said there will be a reduction in the benefits bill. We'll do it in a Labour way. That seemed pretty clear. Yeah, but the Chancellor was then forced, forced to clarify that when he said yes, he really meant to say no. He said it was not correct to say that we're going to bring the welfare bill down in this Parliament.

So there we have it. The Labour way to cut welfare. Yeah. But no but yeah but yeah but no but yeah, but as my hon. Friend, the shadow business Secretary said, a little Britain farce from a Little Britain Chancellor. And as my hon. Friend, the shadow Chancellor said on Thursday, the UK government's finances are walking along a cliff edge with our national debt at 100% of GDP and with government continuing to tax and borrow more, he was right to do so. You don't help the disadvantaged in our society by dodging hard choices and going broke.

You make their lives harder, much harder. A Budget that ignores the warning signals and buries its head in the sand is a Budget that is deliberately increasing the risk to those least able to cope. Rather than cut borrowing, Labour planned to borrow nearly a quarter of £1 trillion more over just the next two years, costing every British household an extra £476 per year in additional debt interest. That isn't smart, that isn't fair.

Not to this generation, and certainly not to
20:05
Daisy Cooper Portrait Points of Order Daisy Cooper MP (St Albans, Liberal Democrat)
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future generations. And yet the Chancellor praised his fiscal discipline. But the Chancellor discipline. But the Chancellor knows he is standing on quicksand. knows he is standing on quicksand. Let's be clear by voting through this Budget tonight, Labour MPs are this Budget tonight, Labour MPs are voting for real terms. Cuts to the schools Budget, real terms, cuts to schools Budget, real terms, cuts to the prisons Budget, real terms, cuts to adult social care. It's there in the documents, in black and white. But Labour MPs will not vote for real terms cuts. They don't have the backbone for tough decisions.

So the Chancellor, the Chancellor, will have to start to work on how to raise taxes yet again to fill the 49 billion hole in his finances. The British people should be under no illusion. A fourth tax raising Labour Budget lies ahead with massive tax increases to fund Labour's addiction to borrowing, Labour's addiction to big government and Labour's addiction to more welfare. This Budget is not a fair Budget. It raises taxes on savers for being prudent and reducing their dependency on others. It raises taxes on people who rent out their properties so someone else can have a roof over their head.

It snatches away tax relief for people who start a business not to become a billionaire, but because it's their passion and they want to create just a small nest egg for when they retire. And it introduces new taxes when the tax burden is already far too high, a conservative government would not shirk its responsibilities to make big decisions. We would take the hard decisions to reduce welfare, to improve the productivity of public services, to cut back on overseas aid and on the size of the civil service, with £0.50 of every pound saved. Going to reduce our deficit under our Golden economic rule.

A conservative plan for governing. Now, with a team with deep experience of the world outside politics, and a leader with the backbone to see our country through to a more secure, more prosperous

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and fairer future. I call the Chief Secretary to

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I call the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Emma Reynolds. Yes. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. This Budget provides breathing. Space now and fresh hope for the Space now and fresh hope for the future. The focus of today's debate, and I would like to thank all honourable and right hon. Members honourable and right hon. Members across this House for their contributions, not only today, but over the four days of the debate on this Budget and on the action that we are taking in government to steer Britain through the global economic storms, to kick start good growth in every postcode, strengthen our national security, and to chart a new course for our country in the years ahead.

Madam Deputy Speaker, many hon. Members, including my hon. Friend for Barrow and Furness and for Rossendale and Darwen, rightly stressed the challenges that we are facing because of the storms in the global economy. Madam Deputy Speaker, we heard a lot from the opposition frontbench today, most of it hot air, but not a word of apology for calling on this government to join

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the war in the Middle East. That is driving up energy costs, inflation borrowing. A.

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A. Reminder that. We cannot wish away these global economic storms. Instead, the economic storms. Instead, the Chancellor my right hon. Friend has set out a course to steer this country through them. That is why country through them. That is why we have chosen to use some of the fiscal headroom established last year to absorb the impact of the Iran war to protect the economy, British businesses and family budgets. And as my hon. Friends for the cities of London and Westminster and for Darlington rightly said, fiscal discipline underwrites every policy that this government makes. We will meet the fiscal rules in full, and for the first time in the third year of the forecast last year, borrowing fell to its lowest level in six years as a percentage of GDP, and it continues to fall across the forecast.

And we will not take any lectures from the shadow Chancellor or indeed the shadow Chief Secretary. They like to claim that they were innocent bystanders who just happened to be Treasury Ministers during the Liz Truss mini Budget. But of course, we all know that they were the architects of the mini Budget and still to this
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None Portrait Remaining Orders of the Day
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day, the shadow Chancellor maintains as recently as September maintains as recently as September there are a lot of good things in day the British people are paying day the British people are paying the price for his failure. Liz Truss's stint in office might have been short lived, but the impact was long lasting. Madam Deputy Speaker, the contrast with this Speaker, the contrast with this Labour government could not be clearer. I am proud that the IMF has said that the UK stands out as a country where, and I quote, action to reduce the debt and deficit have been taken decisively and they have said that we will have the lowest deficit in the G7 by 2029.

And this year. Madam Deputy Speaker, I will in a minute. I'll make a little bit of progress as my hon. Friend for Macclesfield rightly said, the British economy has proven more resilient than many, including hon. Members opposite predicted, and indeed it has defied expectations. The Tories and Reform like to talk down our economy, but the fundamentals of the British economy are strong. Public investment is up. Business investment is up to its highest level in ten years. Productivity has finally turned a corner, and we have the joint fastest growth in

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the G7 in the first half of this year. I will give. Way to the hon. Lady. She talked

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Way to the hon. Lady. She talked about people talking down the economy. The Joseph Rowntree Trust say that Labour, overseeing the

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say that Labour, overseeing the sharpest fall in living standards in 65 years. Unbelievable. Now I wonder if the hon. Lady

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Now I wonder if the hon. Lady thinks they're wrong. And if she does think they're wrong, how much

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does think they're wrong, how much is the government overseeing in terms of declining living standards? The last Parliament was the worst Parliament on living on record for living standards. And since the last election, living standards have increased by 1.8%. But I would urge him to read the executive summary from the OBR that says, as a net importer of energy, the rise in energy prices constitutes a negative terms of trade shock for the UK, which pushes up on inflation and lowers real household disposable income. Those are the headwinds, the global headwinds that we are facing.

Oh,

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maybe. Go on. I'm grateful. I'm grateful. To the Minister. She will be

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To the Minister. She will be aware that, like my right hon. Friend the Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggests that Foundation suggests that constituents of mine families will be at least £440 worse off in this Parliament, and it will be the worst Parliament ever. No Covid, no worst Parliament ever. No Covid, no new Ukraine energy prices. So can she. Can she answer? Can she answer

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the right hon. Gentleman's question. Are they wrong or are they right? What I will say to the hon.

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What I will say to the hon. Gentleman is that wages under this government are. The last two years have risen faster than they did in have risen faster than they did in the first ten years of their government, so we will take no lectures for the hon. Gentleman or lectures for the hon. Gentleman or his party. Against this backdrop, the Chancellor is providing immediate breathing space for immediate breathing space for families and businesses. Our £100 household energy payment would support 20 million households in England, 80% of households, and this will be paid for by a time limited 3% increase to the bank surcharge that the party opposite are going to oppose in the lobbies tonight.

And we and we are going further on bills by extending the removal of VAT on electricity until July, extending the £0.05 cut on fuel duty, and next year we will abolish gas standing charges. And I'd like to thank my hon. Friends
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20:08
Freddie van Mierlo Portrait Freddie van Mierlo MP (Henley and Thame, Liberal Democrat)
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we are providing support to families by giving self-employed dads paid paternity leave and I dads paid paternity leave and I would like to thank my hon. Friends for Reading West and Mid Berkshire and Dagenham and Rainham for and Dagenham and Rainham for welcoming this measure, and we are backing British businesses and high streets, and I would like to streets, and I would like to correct the record here. Of course, the brilliant men and women across the country who run small the country who run small businesses are working people. I thank them for their contribution to our local economies and our local high streets, the bakeries, the cafes, the restaurants, the beauticians, the hairdressers and the local pub and so many more.

In the first week of this new government in July, we cut an extra 20% off business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues from April next year and I thank my hon. Friend for Hyndburn in her constituency for the invitation to the pub in. I look forward to coming to eat the goulash and. And in this Budget the Chancellor has gone further by taking 70,000 more small retail, hospitality and leisure properties out of paying business rates altogether for all other businesses in these sectors. We are freezing their business rates in real terms, and I thank my hon.

Friend my neighbour, for Aylesbury for what she said about this change in business rates and the 2000 small businesses on our high street across Buckinghamshire, including in Aylesbury and indeed in High Wycombe, that will be taken out of paying business taxes, business rates all together. And to pay for this, as my hon. Friend for Heywood and Middleton North mentioned, we are increasing machine machine games duty for higher stakes machines and we are carving out adult gaming centres and vape shops from business rate reliefs, and we are ensuring online marketplaces collect and pay VAT that they they.

They should be doing. Already, many hon. Members and right hon. Members have mentioned young people during this debate. We want young people to have the chance to earn, learn and get on. We have a moral duty, as the Chancellor has rightly said, to this next generation. We are raising pay for low paid workers while being careful not to price young people out of that crucial first job. We have also expanded access to work experience and record funding for apprenticeships. We've introduced a scheme for first time buyers in this Budget and cap student loan interest rates at 6%.

Madam Deputy Speaker, my hon. Friends for Lichfield and Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare mentioned the Mineworkers Pension Scheme and I want to address this in my remarks. It is this Labour government that has returned the investment fund to the members of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme in a previous Budget, and at this Budget the Chancellor has rightly put in place a measure to make sure that not a penny of the surpluses going forward will come back to the government. 100% of surpluses will go to the members of that scheme, and on the outstanding issue, the Guarantors Fund, the Chancellor has also been clear that we will go on to ensure the full transfer, alongside the decisions to provide breathing space.

Now, the Chancellor also took action for the long term to kick start growth across the country. This is the only way to keep Britain's families and Britain's finances secure for the long term. That begins first with delivering the most ambitious devolution package in a generation. Madam Deputy Speaker, we are putting power in the hands of local leaders because they know the right levers to pull, to drive growth and job creation in their local areas. Second, this Budget delivers radical reform of our energy system because our priority is to bring energy costs down to help British business compete and British households to cope.

We will only buy and build in a minute new projects when they lower bills and when they can connect to the grid. We will further break the grip of international gas prices on our bills by moving more of our old renewables onto fixed price contacts, and we will build cheaper, faster grid connections through GB

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grid. I will give way. Having just said that, the government wants to support government wants to support households, but also move away from expensive fossil fuels. Why the

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expensive fossil fuels. Why the cuts and the boiler upgrade scheme and the Warm homes plan? Secretary?

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Secretary? Well, we are securing energy in our country and we are giving people an energy support package. people an energy support package. As I've outlined earlier in my contribution and crucially, we are putting an end to the Tory practice of loading levy costs onto bills because, unlike them, we are determined to bring down energy bills for families. Third, we are supporting companies to start, scale and stay in the UK. We are introducing a new Founders Relief for founders of high growth companies and a new Young Entrepreneurs Allowance to cover a year of living costs for young founders while they turn their businesses, turn their ideas into businesses and crucially, as recommended by the Women in Tech Task Force, we are establishing a new scale up programme to support female founders.

The British Business Bank will also double its commitments to women led businesses. Finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, we have taken action to tackle the big challenges facing our country and most importantly on defence. The first duty of any government is to keep the country safe. I am proud that this Labour Government has driven the biggest boost in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, and at the Budget last week, we took difficult decisions to reprioritise budgets across Whitehall to fund the £15 billion defence Investment plan in full. And at the spending review next year, we will set out the details of how we will meet our NATO commitment to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035, and, crucially, this includes setting a target date for 3% in 2030.

This. This is a credible path to the UK meeting our NATO commitments. Not my words, but

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the words of the NATO Secretary general, Mark Rutter, who has welcomed our

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Rutter, who has welcomed our plans. Madam Deputy Speaker, I know that there's plenty of disagreement in this House on different measures in the Budget, but one area where I think we do agree is that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the shoulder to shoulder with the people and government of Ukraine. This Budget provides £10 billion of additional and military support for additional and military support for Ukraine. It means that together we send a clear message to Moscow. Britain will stand with you, with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Madam Deputy Speaker, this is a Budget built on fiscal discipline.

It charts a way through difficult global economic headwinds. It provides breathing space for families and businesses. Now it kick starts work on the big changes needed to put this country on a better course, on devolution, on energy and on defence. And it will deliver good growth in every postcode and strengthen our national security. This is a Budget built on labour choices, breathing

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space today and fresh hope for the future. Yeah.

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The question is the motion relating to income tax charge as on the Order Paper, as many of that the Order Paper, as many of that opinion say, I. I Of the contrary, no. The ayes have it. The ayes have no. The ayes have it. The ayes have it. I am now required under standing order number 51, bracket three. To put successively, without three. To put successively, without further debate, the question on each of the ways and means motions numbered 2 to 108, and the motion on which the Finance Bill is to be brought in. These motions set out in a separate paper distributed with today's Order Paper.

We now come to motion number two on income tax. Main rates. The question is that the motion be agreed to as many of that opinion say aye. I continue. The ayes have it. The ayes have it. We now come to motion number three on income tax default property and savings rates. The question is that the motion be

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agreed to. As many of that opinion say, aye. I of the contrary, no. Know. Colleagues should be seated. The question is, as on the Order Paper as many that say I of the contrary, no. know what the eyes are. Emma Foody and Laurence Turner Tellers for the noes are David Simmons and Bradley Thomas. I can't see Sir Jeffrey. Sir Jeffrey Tellers for the noes I Order! Order! Order! Order! Order! The Order! Order! The ayes Order! Order! The ayes to Order! Order! The ayes to the Order! Order! The ayes to the right. Order! Order! The ayes to the right.

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337. The noes to the left. 180.

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337. The noes to the left. 180. The eyes to right 337. The noes to the left 180. So the ayes have to the left 180. So the ayes have it. The ayes have it unlock. With the leave of the house. I will put the questions on motions 4 to 6 together. The question is that motions 4 to 6 be agreed to. As many people say I of Of the contrary, no. the ayes have it. The ayes have it. We now come to motion number seven on increase in rate of banking surcharge for temporary period. The question is that the motion be agreed to.

As many as opinion say aye. Of the contrary, Colleagues Colleagues observing Colleagues observing the Colleagues observing the chamber will see that I'm on my feet and they should be seated. The question is, as on the Order Paper as many people say, I of the contrary, no. know with the eyes of Emma Foody and Laurence Turner Tellers for the noes, David Simmonds and Bradley Order, Order, order!

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The ayes to the right 420. The

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noes to the left 105. The eyes.

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The eyes. To the right 420. The noes to the left 105. So the ayes have it. the left 105. So the ayes have it. The ayes have it unlock. We now come to motion number eight on capital gains tax. Business asset disposal relief. The question is that the motion be agreed to. As many that opinion say aye. Of the Colleague, Colleague, should Colleague, should be Colleague, should be seated. Sir. John Hayes Afzal Khan. You're still standing? I'm still marvellous. The question is as on the Order Paper as many people say. I of the contrary, no.

know tellers for the ayes are Emma Foody and Laurence Turner Tellers for the
20:21
Simon Lightwood Portrait Simon Lightwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport) (Wakefield and Rothwell, Labour )
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Order, Order, order! Order, order!

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The ayes to the right. 348 the

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noes to the left. 176. The ayes to the right. 348. The

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The ayes to the right. 348. The noes to the left. 176. The ayes

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have it. The ayes have it. Unlock. Go and sit.

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Go and sit. Down. With the leave of the house. I will put the question on motions 9 to 14 together. The question is that motions 9 to 14 be agreed to. As many men that say, a country. No. The ayes have it. The ayes have it. We now come to motion number 15 on employment visas. The question is that the motion be agreed to. As many that say I of the contrary, no.

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The The question The question is The question is, The question is, as The question is, as on The question is, as on the The question is, as on the Order

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The question is, as on the Order Paper as many say, I of the Paper as many say, I of the contrary, no. know. Tellers for the ayes Emma Foody and Laurence Turner ayes Emma Foody and Laurence Turner Tellers for the noes are Richard Order. Order. Order! Order. Order!

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The ayes to the right 414. The

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noes to the left. 106. The ayes to the right 414. The

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The ayes to the right 414. The noes to the left 106 so the ayes have it. The ayes have it unlock. With the leave of the house. I will put questions on motion 16 to 54 together. The question is that motion 16 to 54 be agreed to. As many that opinion say I, II of the contrary, no. the ayes have it. The ayes have it. We now come to motion number 55 on value added tax electric vehicle charging. The question is that the motion be

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agreed to, and many that opinion say, I of the contrary, no. Know.

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Know.

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Colleagues Colleagues observing Colleagues observing the Colleagues observing the chamber.

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Colleagues observing the chamber. Miss Suella Braverman the question is, as on the Order Paper Sarah is, as on the Order Paper Sarah Champion say I of the contrary, no. tellers for the ayes Emma Foody and Laurence Turner Tellers for the Laurence Turner Tellers for the noes are Will Forster and Lee

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Order, Order, order.

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Order, order.

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The ayes to the right 324 the

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noes to the left. 88. The eyes the right. 324. The noes to the left. 88. To the ayes have it. The ayes have it unlock. With the leave of the house. I will put the questions on motion 56 to 75 together. The question is that motions 56 to 75 be agreed to. Is made that opinion say aye. I contrary no. The ayes have it. The ayes have it. We now come to motion number 76 on rates of alcohol duty. The question is that the motion be agreed to. As many that say, I of the contrary, no.

know, Claire. The Is Is observing. Is observing. The Is observing. The chamber should note that I'm on my feet and should be seated. Sir. John Hayes Graham Stuart. That's not really a seat. That's kind of a curious perch. Marvellous. And the question is, as on the order papers that say.

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A of the contrary, no. No. Tellers for the ayes Emma Foody and Laurence Turner. Tellers for the noes. David Simmonds and

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Order. The ayes to the right. 331. The

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The ayes to the right. 331. The noes to the left. 181. Thank you.

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noes to the left. 181. Thank you. The Ayes to the right 331. The noes to the left 181. So the ayes noes to the left 181. So the ayes have it. The ayes have it unlock. With leave of the house. I will put the questions on motion 77 to 85 together. The question is that motion 77 to 85 be agreed to. As many say I of the contrary, no. the ayes have it. The ayes have it. We now come to motion number 86 on high value council tax surcharge. The question is that the motion be agreed to.

As many say, I.

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Reserving Reserving the Reserving the chamber Reserving the chamber will Reserving the chamber will know

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Reserving the chamber will know that I'm on my feet and should be seated. Miss Rachel Gilmour.

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seated. Miss Rachel Gilmour. Marvellous, marvellous! The question is as on the Order Paper as many say, a. High.

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High. No, no. The eyes of Emma Foody and Laurence Turner Tellers for the

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No. Order.

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Order!

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The ayes to the right. 327. The

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noes to the left. 161 thank you. The ayes to the right. 327. The

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The ayes to the right. 327. The noes to the left. 161. For the ayes have it. The ayes have it unlock. With the leave of the house. I will put the question on the remaining ways and means motions together. The question is that motions 87 to 108 be agreed to. As many an opinion say aye. Of the contrary, no. the ayes have it. The ayes have it. The question is that the motion relating to finance money be agreed to. As many of that opinion say, I of the contrary, no. the ayes have it. The ayes have it.

Fell. Order to be brought in upon the foregoing resolutions, who will prepare and bring in the bill?

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The chairman of the Ways and Means, the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Emma Chancellor of the Exchequer. Emma Reynolds Lucy Rigby. Dan Tomlinson. Torsten Bell and myself.

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Yes.

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Very good God.

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Yes. Yes.

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Yes. Yes. You have. Finance Bill. Second Reading. What day?

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Second Reading. What day? Tomorrow? Yeah. Here, here.

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Here, here. You just carry on. That was brilliant, right?

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That is the end of that piece of business today. We're moving. Point of order, Daisy Cooper. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, the right hon. Member for Fareham and Waterlooville claimed twice during today's debate that 27 young non EU migrants have been hired for every young Brit since 2020, but the reality is very different. The report the hon. Member was referring to has been debunked, and the actual numbers of employed young people, not the increases in the number of payrolled young people are used. Then ten UK under 25 are employed for every one non-EU national. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, could I please ask for your advice on how members of this House can be asked to correct the record?

I'm grateful to the hon. Member for giving notice of a point of order. I take it that she has informed the right hon. Member for Wear and Waterlooville. I can see she's not in that. She has before she refers to her. The chair is not responsible for the accuracy of hon. Members speeches, and any member who wants to correct the record should contact Hansard, and she's most definitely got her point on the record today. Now, I let the front benches shuffle over. The. Leave of the House. Our group, the next s eyes together, motion number three on transport.

Motion number four on electricity. Motion number five on housing.

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Individually. I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll be taking these

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I'll be taking these individually. Motion number three on transfer Minister to move. I beg to move.

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I beg to move. The question is, as on the Order Paper Amanda Martin say aye. Of the

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contrary, no. The ayes have it. The ayes have it. Motion number four on electricity. Minister to move. I beg to move.

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I beg to move. The question is as on the Order Paper as made that opinion say I. I offer the contrary. The ayes have

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it. The ayes have it. Motion number five on housing Minister Tamworth. I beg to move.

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The question is, as on the Order Paper as many of the opinion say, I. I of the contrary, no. know I of the contrary, no. know division. The division is deferred until tomorrow. That's number five, motion number six on housing Minister to move.

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Minister to move. I beg to move. The question is as on the order papers made an opinion, say I, I. papers made an opinion, say I, I. No, no. The division is deferred

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until tomorrow. Motion number seven on sanctions. Mr. Move. I beg to move. The question is, as on the Order

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The question is, as on the Order Paper as made that opinion say aye. Of the contrary, no. o the ayes

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have it. The ayes have it. I beg to move that this House do now adjourn. The question is that this House

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The question is that this House do now adjourn, and I call Freddie Van Mierlo on the future of minibus

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Van Mierlo on the future of minibus drivers for community transport services. Freddie Mierlo thank you, Madam.

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Deputy Speaker. I'd like to start, if I may, by talking about fish, but not. Madam Deputy Speaker, the aquatic kind, you'll be pleased to know, given the topic of this debate, fish stands for friendship in Sickness and Health and it's a wonderful charity in the village of Sonning Common, in my constituency of Henley and Thame. It's of Henley and Thame. It's volunteers, among other things, run a minibus service for older residents and residents with residents and residents with disabilities to get about the villages in my area, their minibus. Their minibuses are perfect for providing a people who otherwise would really struggle to leave the house with a trip out to the shops or to the market.

Morrisons, I'm told, remains ever popular and the extra space on the bus is vital for bringing back all the shopping. Fish are not alone either. In my constituency, Henley Handi Bus, supported by Henley Town Council, operate daily and Woodcote volunteers host events provided, providing transport to their monthly tea parties. But it was Sonning Commons fish Group that brought to my attention the issue of D1 licences when they met with me in October. Here in Westminster. The Minister is likely to be familiar with the issue, but I'll briefly describe it in the words used to explain it to me.

A category D1 licence gives a driver permission to drive a minibus with up to 16 passengers up to 7.5 tonnes. Prior to 1997, all new licences were issued with this category as standard. In 1997 that changed and now in now D1 minibus driving licences require an additional test. This happened for very understandable reasons to enhance safety, and it also brought us in line with other similar countries. But it also created a problem. Community transport services have become dependent on an ever decreasing pool of drivers who qualified prior to 1997. Madam Deputy Speaker, I am confident that means neither yourself, the Minister or I have D1 licences.

The reality today is that more than half of community transport operators report insufficient D1 drivers to meet demand, according to the Community Transport Association, 81% of community transport operators are not confident they will have enough D1 drivers to sustain their services in as little as three years time. What's even worse, Madam Deputy Speaker, is that once a driver gets to the age of 70, they automatically lose their D1 category licence unless they apply to retain it. They must do that every three years. Again, this is for very understandable reasons and sensible safety precautions, but the upshot is that 99% of all D1 licences in Great Britain are held by drivers in a narrow age band of of 47 to 69.

Oh, happy good boy. Jim Shannon madam.

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Deputy Speaker first of all, can I commend the hon. Gentleman for Henley and Thame for bringing this forward? He's brought up an forward? He's brought up an incredibly important issue for my constituents. Strangford local independent bus companies provide an absolute lifeline for the an absolute lifeline for the vulnerable, for the elderly, for the schoolchildren. Yet these operators are facing incredible pressures from rising fuel costs, pressures from rising fuel costs, regulatory burdens and acute shortage of qualified licensed drivers. If we are to prevent rural communities from being cut off, does the hon. Member agree that government must step in with targeted support to assist our local operators with driver recruitment, training and

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operational funding UK wide? I thank the hon. Member for his intervention. He mentions D1 intervention. He mentions D1 licences and also a wider range of issues that face community transport organisations, and I'm

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sure the Minister will have heard him point. Yes. I thank. My hon. Friend for giving way.

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My hon. Friend for giving way. Recently I hosted a round table of community transport organisations chaired by Vosa, which operates in chaired by Vosa, which operates in my constituency and is supported by Stratford on Avon District Council and they are a lifeline lifeline for residents of an elderly residents who otherwise struggle to reach medical appointments and other services. Does my hon. Friend agree that community transport should be recognised as a core part of our transport network as essential infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and should be embedded in future policies.

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I thank. My hon. Friend for her very sensible intervention and my own local authority in Oxfordshire also local authority in Oxfordshire also heavily supports community transport organisations, and I'm sure her proposals were also heard sure her proposals were also heard by the Minister. ER. Over the next five years, more than 3 million D1 five years, more than 3 million D1 licences are likely to be lost as drivers reach 70, equivalent to 1 drivers reach 70, equivalent to 1 in 5 D1 licences. We are therefore facing a ticking time bomb as qualified drivers age out at the top and there are not enough punished from below.

Without action from the government, there are serious consequences for the future viability of community transport. Yes, there.

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Giving way. I am a massive supporter of community transport and in fact my village has a and in fact my village has a community transport minibus which is absolute essential lifeline, particularly in a rural area where particularly in a rural area where we have no buses. But I'm sure the hon. Gentleman is aware, and I wonder what he thinks about the wonder what he thinks about the fact that if you want to undertake a driving test, a minibus driving a driving test, a minibus driving test in my area, you have to travel some long distance and it can cost you up to £2,000 for that test,

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which seems extraordinarily expensive. Well, I thank my hon. Friend for

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Well, I thank my hon. Friend for that addition to the debate. I was aware of the cost, which I will come on to, but I hadn't been made come on to, but I hadn't been made aware previously of the distance that some drivers may need to travel to carry out a test, and that would be an additional barrier to enabling volunteers to to do what they love doing most. So if I move on now, if you might reasonably ask Madam Deputy Speaker, why don't people just take the test? So test is a perfectly reasonable thing to ask someone driving 7.5 tons of fast moving metal to pass.

I think we all accept that no one is disputing it, but it's how difficult that test is and how costly it is that matters. How proportionate is the test to the social benefits of community transport? How easy are we making it for people who want to do good in their community, who want to give up their time for others to do so? Because if we make it too difficult, they'll just say, what's the point and move on to something else. At the moment, drivers must pass an additional theory test, a practical test and a medical assessment, all to the tune of up to £2,000.

Setting a cost of up to £2,000 might make sense in terms of passing on the administrative costs of of the testing regime to the customer. Rationally, I can see how we might have got to this point, though the Minister may be able to confirm if a profit is made on the testing regime or not. And certainly if it is the case, I would ask if he looks into it, but I would argue the social and economic benefit benefit of having more minibus drivers able to run local community services should be taken into account. Rural yes, I will.

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I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way, and I commend him for bringing this really important bringing this really important debate to the chamber, and I'm listening intently to what he's saying, and I will be listening intently to what the Minister says, intently to what the Minister says, because I've seen firsthand in my constituency the volunteer friends constituency the volunteer friends charity who actually run a medical transport service and supported shopping service, and the issues shopping service, and the issues that he's raising, show that there are problems in this sector, and we need to do everything we possibly can to facilitate people to volunteer to help the community.

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And I've seen with my own eyes just how important this is. Well, can I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention and Gentleman for his intervention and his intervention highlights just how widespread this this issue is and how keenly it's felt in all and how keenly it's felt in all corners of the country. Rural constituencies like mine rely on constituencies like mine rely on volunteer transport to plug the gap between private motor vehicle usage and commercial for profit bus and commercial for profit bus companies. Many rural routes are not profit making and have no hope of doing so.

The alternative is clear if we let community transport die a slow death, we will see more social isolation with all the health and social care costs associated with that, we will see councils come under pressure to step in with taxpayer funded schemes and subsidies, at a time when the government has cut my own local authority's funding, it's hard to see how that can happen. And why should it? When we have a pool of people willing to volunteer and for the volunteers, it's rewarding work that gives meaning to people's lives. It provides an opportunity to give back and be part of something really special.

And I'd like to put on the record, therefore, that I am sincerely grateful for all the hard work of volunteers put in every day and the contribution they make. Two of these wonderful volunteers are John Pearman, fish transport coordinator, and David Whitehead, the chair of Fish Volunteer Centre. The pair do excellent work to coordinate half a dozen drivers and look out for opportunities to recruit new volunteers. John told me of how he found three potential new drivers, but once they had understood the costs and time needed to update their licence to a D1 status, all withdrew their interest.

This is even with the offer from Sonning Common Health Centre for free medical testing to volunteer minibus drivers. And so David and John completely rely on these 47 to 69 age band. That band becomes ever narrower each year when thinking about how to move forwards. The government doesn't have to start from scratch in. In 2022, a call for evidence on driving licensing took views on the minibus licensing regime from over 2000 respondents. Although most respondents supported a change in current licensing arrangements, no substantial actions have been taken to improve the status. Since then, the government has pointed concerned parties towards exemptions that already exist for D1 licences.

However, the CTA note that these exemptions make no meaningful change in availability of drivers. The exemptions allow those with a driving licence. Post 1997 to drive a minibus of up to 3.5 tonnes. However, nearly three quarters of all vehicles in the UK's community transport fleet are minibuses, with between 9 and 16 seats, often with weighty accessibility features. Larger vehicles give local charities, community groups and social enterprises the flexibility they need to operate effectively

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with more affordable costs. Again, yes. I thank you for giving away a

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I thank you for giving away a second time. I would just like to point out also that there are a number of community minibuses that number of community minibuses that have now run on their electric vehicles, and of course, the batteries are very much heavier and batteries are very much heavier and that takes them automatically along with a lot of the accessibility equipment like wheelchair lifts, equipment like wheelchair lifts, takes their weight way over the three and a half ton limit.

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I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. And of course, we want to be encouraging a shift to want to be encouraging a shift to more sustainable, greener forms of travel and that should be enabled within the while still maintaining within the while still maintaining a good cohort of drivers. But I won't take any more interventions because I know we have to move on. More than 1 in 10 organisations have changed their service delivery have changed their service delivery model, often replacing conventional minibuses with cars or lightweight minibuses, resulting in lower capacity increased costs and operational complexity.

However, drivers of these lighter vehicles are not eligible to be paid, unlike the standard D1 license. Adding further to the burden. So how can we help community transport? The CTA has put forward a proposal. It's not a blanket minibus licence for all drivers. It's not a return to 1997. They propose a targeted intervention to allow drivers to acquire a D1 licence to drive a minibus. For non-profit organisations, the licence would draw on minibus learning programmes that already exist and require the driver to complete a DVSA accredited training based upgrade, similar to the minibus driver awareness scheme, Midas Midas is a national programme of quality assured education and training for the community transport sector.

This approach was supported by resident by respondents to the government's 2022 call for evidence. The CTA proposal requires an online theory test, a short practical session on road assessment and medical assessments. But crucially, with a cost of just under £300, the proposal allows numbers of drivers to be increased in a safe way, using an established information and learning assessment. Perhaps the Minister in his remarks and therefore say if he has considered the CTA proposals and of course, I would caveat that with I'm not a road expert and the CTA proposals may not be 100% the answer.

But surely the government could come up with a regime that achieves both aims, safe roads and a thriving community transport sector. I look

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forward to the Minister's remarks and addressing the points raised. Minister if you already Minister

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Minister if you already Minister Simon Lightwood. Yes, thank. You, Madam Deputy Speaker. I begin by congratulating the hon. Gentleman. The Member for Henley and Thame, on securing this debate and on raising this important subject. I'm grateful for him giving the House the opportunity to reflect on the enormously valuable contribution that community transport makes to communities across the country. And I want to begin by putting on record this government's strong support for the community transport sector and our appreciation for the staff and volunteers who make those services possible. Can I also pay tribute to fish in this place for doing a fantastic job?

They really do make a splash for all the right reasons. They are officially doing a great job in this community. I couldn't resist it. He did give me a heads up that he'd be mentioning them. Look, on a more serious matter. The community transport can provide a real lifeline, particularly for older and disabled people, those who are vulnerable or isolated, and people living in rural areas where other public transport options are limited. It helps people get to work in education, to healthcare and other essential services. And just as importantly, it allows people to see friends and family to take part in community life and maintain their independence.

The scale of that contribution should not be underestimated. Community transport operators provide around 13.8 million passenger journeys each year. This is ultimately not just a debate about driving licence categories or regulations, it's about people's ability to get where they need to go and to remain connected to the communities in which they live. That's why the government provides practical support to the sector. The department provides the Community Transport Association with an annual grant to support its work with its members and the wider sector. We also make available up to £3.8 million each year to eligible community transport operators through the Bus Service Operators Grant, helping operators with their running costs.

A 60% uplift has been added to community transport claims until 31st March 2027, with further support during the current period of increased fuel costs. But our support is not simply about direct financial assistance. We want community transport to be properly recognised as part of the wider transport network. We encourage the authorities to consider community transport within their local transport planning, and to look at how those services can complement conventional fixed route bus services and improve connectivity. That is particularly important in places where community transport fills gaps that other transport services cannot easily fill. I turn to the specific issue that the hon.

 Member has raised today the rules governing the driving of minibuses. I recognise very clearly the concern within the community transport sector about the availability of drivers with category D1 entitlement. Prior to 1997, Madam Deputy Speaker someone obtaining a car licence was automatically granted. The restricted category D1 entitlement, commonly known as D1 101, allowing them to drive a minibus where it was not being driven for hire or reward. The automatic entitlement ceased for people passing their car test from the 1st of January 1997. Since then, drivers have generally needed to pass an additional test to obtain a category D1 entitlement.

 Although there are limited circumstances in which a holder of a category B car licence may drive a minibus without a full D1 licence, the practical consequences are that drivers who retain a category D1 through those so-called grandfather rights are gradually getting older, and the number of drivers with D1 is gradually reducing, and I understand the concern that this creates for community transport operators that have traditionally relied upon this cohort of drivers, the CTA has made the case strongly that a diminishing pool of D1 drivers is making recruitment more difficult, and imposes additional costs on organisations which need to train new drivers.

I want to acknowledge the constructive work with the association that has been done in bringing this issue to government and to Parliament. During Community Transport Week in October, the CTA held an event here in Parliament and launched its White Paper, setting out its case for changes to the licensing arrangements. The department is aware of that proposal and we are actively reviewing it. I recognise both the seriousness of the concern behind that work and the effort that the city has made to develop a practical proposal. At the same time, however, the government must consider any proposed change to driver licensing arrangements very carefully.

This consideration also takes place within the wider framework of the government's Road Safety Strategy, which was published earlier this year. The strategy reiterates the government's commitment to reducing those killed and seriously injured on our roads, and to ensuring that road safety impacts are properly considered when developing transport policy. Any changes to driver licensing arrangements, therefore, need to be assessed not only in terms of accessibility, workforce availability and operational benefits, but also in terms of their implications on road safety outcomes. I look before coming here tonight, the last full year of pass rates for D1 in 2025, there were 3069 tests taken, 2511 were passed, but 552 failed that D1 test.

So those without this D1 qualification would potentially be driving minibuses. You can see how important safety is when considering the implications of any changes. And of course, minibuses can carry up to 16 passengers. In addition to the driver, they can weigh up to five tons and be driven at speeds of up to 70 miles an hour. The responsibility placed on the person driving such a vehicle is therefore different from that involved in driving a private car, and for many of the passengers who depend upon community transport are themselves older, disabled or otherwise vulnerable. So whilst I absolutely recognise the pressures facing operators, road and passenger safety must remain at the heart of our consideration of any changes to the licensing regime that I will indeed.

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Minister for giving way. Can I ask him how many accidents there have been involved in community have been involved in community minibuses in the last two three years? Please. And if he doesn't, it might he be able to write to me with that information? I realise

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with that information? I realise it's a very serious matter. I just wondered how many how many incidences there were. So I.

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So I. Would I would commit to write to the hon. Lady on that matter. I don't have that information to hand, don't have that information to hand, but of course, what I've said doesn't mean that the government should should close its mind to reform. Quite the contrary. But it does mean that we must be satisfied that that change is designed to make it easier to obtain the necessary entitlement. Don't introduce unacceptable risks for minibus passengers or for other road users. That balance between flexibility and safety. Madam Deputy Speaker, is not a new question. In 2022, the previous government held a substantial call for evidence looking at potential reforms to driver licensing regimes, and one of the questions that was considered was specifically whether people holding a category B car licence should be granted entitlement to drive category D1 minibuses.

The review ran between August and October 2022, and deliberately sought evidence about whether reforms could widen the pool of minibus drivers while maintaining the safe use of our roads. The response demonstrated significant support for the change, but that is not by itself the same thing as evidence that the change

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can be made safely. The Department's assessment of that exercise was that while there was strong support for extending strong support for extending driving licence entitlements, the evidence presented was not sufficient to allow us to fully understand and assess the understand and assess the associated road safety risks. I understand that the Community Transport Association does not agree that the evidence currently available justifies maintaining the position. That evidence gap is, position. That evidence gap is, however, important. It is why the departments continue to say that any potential relaxation of the D1 requirements need to be considered alongside the implications for road safety.

But I do not want the hon. Member to take, from what I have said, that the government is insensitive to the problem that he has described. Far from it. We recognise the demographic, the demographic issue affecting holders of D1 grandfather rights. We recognise what community transport operators are telling us about recruiting drivers, and we recognise the argument that the costs and the practicalities of obtaining a D1 entitlement may be particularly challenging for small, community based and not for profit organisations. Through its proposal for reform, the Community Transport Association believes it can address those pressures while providing appropriate safeguards.

We will consider that contribution seriously, but we will also continue to place passenger and road safety at the centre of our consideration. I hope members from across the House would agree that those two objectives are supporting the sustainability of community transport and ensuring that people can travel safely should not be regarded as opposing ambitions. Our task now is to determine how best

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to secure both. Thank you. The question is that this House

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The question is that this House do now adjourn. As I say, I the ayes have it. The ayes have it.
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