Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Love Excerpts

Tuesday 29th April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab)]

13. What recent representations he has received on reform of the Office for Budget Responsibility.

[Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op)]

16. What recent representations he has received on reform of the Office for Budget Responsibility.

[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Andrea Leadsom)]

The Chancellor regularly receives representations on a wide range of matters, including the role of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Love]

The Minister ought to be aware that it is not only the Opposition who are promoting this change in policy. The chair of the OBR himself has been sympathetic to it, and the Conservative Chair of the Treasury Committee has also been supportive. Even the Chief Secretary, who is sitting near the Minister on the Front Bench, gave us warm words during the last session of Treasury questions. It seems that the Government are isolated on this issue, but there is still time for that to change.

[Andrea Leadsom]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising those points. It is true that there are those who favour the change in principle, including Robert Chote himself, but Mr Chote has also made it clear that, for very good reasons, now may not be the time for it to take place. Amending the OBR’s remit would require primary legislation, and would have huge implications for the resources available to it. We need to consider such action after the next general election, when there will be time for it to be reviewed properly in the House.