Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Caroline Dinenage Excerpts
Tuesday 4th November 2014

(9 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Osborne Portrait Mr George Osborne
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The Prime Minister achieved a good deal for the United Kingdom, and got away from the solid and fixed renewables target that the Labour Government signed up to. If the hon. Gentleman wants Britain to leave the European Union, that will be achieved with a Conservative Government offering a referendum, and him having a vote and seeing what the outcome is. [Interruption.] Under the Conservative Government, the British people will get a referendum. We will make the argument for staying in a reformed Europe, and the hon. Gentleman can make the case he wants to make. That will not happen under a Labour Government.

Caroline Dinenage Portrait Caroline Dinenage (Gosport) (Con)
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May I urge the Chancellor to support the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in calls for banks not to shut the last branch in a town? HSBC is about to shut its last branch in Lee-on-Solent, leaving businesses with no banking support at all.

Andrea Leadsom Portrait The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Andrea Leadsom)
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My hon. Friend makes an important point. Many people are concerned about bank closures. I recently had a round table with a number of banks and challenger banks to discuss the issue, not least the change towards mobile and telephone banking. We are certainly looking closely at the matter.