Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Albert Owen Excerpts
Wednesday 26th November 2014

(9 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Prime Minister was asked—
Albert Owen Portrait Albert Owen (Ynys Môn) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

Q1. If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 26 November.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and, in addition to my duties in this House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

Albert Owen Portrait Albert Owen
- Hansard - -

In April 2010, I agreed with the Prime Minister and Nick that VAT was a regressive tax. Indeed the Prime Minister went further and said that it was far more regressive than income tax. He then went on to break his pledge to the British people and hiked up VAT to 20%. May I give him an opportunity to restore his credibility on VAT and ask him to rule it out completely to pay for any future income tax cuts?

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Our plans involve not putting up taxes, but continuing to grow our economy and create jobs. With regard to the long-term economic plan, the hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that a new statistic has come out today. We used to say that there were 400,000 new businesses in Britain. I can now tell the House that, since 2010, there are 760,000 new businesses.