Taxes on Small Businesses Debate

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Department: HM Treasury
Wednesday 18th October 2017

(6 years, 6 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Peter Dowd Portrait Peter Dowd
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Of course we have.

Chris Philp Portrait Chris Philp (Croydon South) (Con)
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What’s the answer?

Peter Dowd Portrait Peter Dowd
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The hon. Gentleman, from a sedentary position, asks for the answer. We are here for the Government to defend their record, not for a defence of what Labour’s record will be. [Interruption.] It is okay for Members to laugh, but the bottom line is that the economy is in chaos. Only yesterday the OECD effectively said that the Government should rethink their position on corporation tax. That is not coming from me; it comes from our partners elsewhere.

We want to support small and medium-sized enterprises. I have made the point that it is ridiculous to suggest that they are somehow a foreign land to the Labour party. The country needs, and we have set out, proper investment in the economy and skills and increased productivity. We believe that small businesses can play a part in investment, in a rise in productivity and in helping with skills shortages; but in turn it is our responsibility to help them. I am not sure that they are getting the support they need.