Autumn Statement Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Autumn Statement

Abena Oppong-Asare Excerpts
Wednesday 22nd November 2023

(5 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jeremy Hunt Portrait Jeremy Hunt
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My hon. Friend asks an important question. I want to assure him that I have had extensive discussions with the Communities Secretary to ensure that we implement these reforms in a way that does not lead to unintended consequences. The most important thing is that by allowing the biggest applications to have full cost recovery with respect to local councils, we can start to get more resources, which will mean that we can train up more planning officers and avoid delays not just for the bigger applications but for all of them.

Abena Oppong-Asare Portrait Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)
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Does the Chancellor agree that the Prime Minister was wrong last year to try to increase national insurance?

Jeremy Hunt Portrait Jeremy Hunt
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What the Prime Minister wanted to do then is what he has delivered as Prime Minister, which was to find a way to deliver extra funding to the NHS. What we as Conservatives believe is that taxing the economy more lightly will lead to higher growth, meaning that we can fund our public services better.