Oral Answers to Questions
Alex McIntyre Excerpts(1Â week, 6Â days ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
John Healey
The Prime Minister and I have been clear that we must cut the costs of welfare. On levels of taxation, we had a period of Conservative Government, with low growth and high debt. They crashed the economy with the mini-Budget, and we had levels of taxation that were putting pressure on business, adding to the cost of living. What people have seen under this Government is a willingness to recognise those pressures and to do what we can—not to remove them, but to provide relief where we can. It is about giving people and families a bit of breathing space from the cost of living, and giving businesses a bit of breathing space from the costs of business. That is why the move that the Prime Minister and I made in July for pubs, social clubs and live venues was so welcomed.
Alex McIntyre (Gloucester) (Lab)
Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth) (Lab)
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Emma Reynolds)
The Government will support good growth in every postcode, including in Cornwall and Gloucester. We have already established No. 10 North to work in partnership with local leaders, businesses and communities, and at the Budget next month we will publish plans for further fiscal devolution, including greater retention of business rates revenue for local councils and strategic authorities.
Alex McIntyre
I thank the Minister for her answer. I fully support the Government’s exciting agenda of devolution, which takes power out of Whitehall and puts it into the hands of residents and communities like mine. However, my constituency of Gloucester does not have a metro mayor, and we are not part of a combined authority. I am determined to ensure that Gloucester is not left behind and is included in these important plans going forward. Can the Minister confirm how we can work together to ensure that Gloucester feels the benefits and investment from the Government’s devolution agenda?
Emma Reynolds
My hon. Friend is a great champion for his constituency. The Cabinet statement on devolution set out the Government’s ambitions to accelerate devolution across the country by establishing a strategic authority for every area in England that wants one by the end of 2028. All strategic authorities, including those without a mayor, will benefit from greater powers over skills, transport and housing.
Business Rates
Alex McIntyre Excerpts(7Â months, 3Â weeks ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Dan Tomlinson
I do not think that was a question for me. It was a question for you, Mr Speaker.
Alex McIntyre (Gloucester) (Lab)
I note that Reform Members have already made it to the pub ahead of the statement, perhaps to celebrate the latest defection from the Conservative party, but I thank the Minister for today’s statement. Since I got elected last year, I have been running a campaign to open up our empty shops in Gloucester and show that we are open for business. May I ask him to expedite the high street strategy to make sure that we are capitalising on the fantastic opportunities in my city to turbocharge regional growth in my area and make sure that everyone can be proud of their high street?
Dan Tomlinson
I really look forward to working with my hon. Friend on important matters such as the high street strategy, and I hope that he has been in conversation with his local authority and businesses about some of the other measures that the Government are introducing and the issues that are important to him. High street rental auctions have real potential to be powerful in forcing shops that are being left vacant back into use. The introduction of the community right to buy should also be an effective change, and I hope that we will be able to see it implemented in his constituency and across the country.