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Written Question
Public Sector: Borrowing
Tuesday 9th December 2025

Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to reduce Government borrowing.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

We need to address the UK’s borrowing and debt, so we spend less on debt interest and more on the priorities of working people.

The government has a credible consolidation plan that ensures borrowing is falling in every year of the forecast. Borrowing this year is set to be the lowest for 6 years.

The government is reducing borrowing while protecting investment, and is maintaining an increase of over £120 billion departmental capital spending over the Parliament.

From 2025 to 2030, the UK is reducing government borrowing more than any other G7 country.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 03 Dec 2025
OBR: Resignation of Chair

"Over my years here, I have seen many Budgets. Members on the Government Benches wave their Order Papers on the day, then watch as the Budget unravels over the next 48 hours, but we do not seem to have had any of that with this Budget. It has been extraordinarily …..."
Clive Efford - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Nov 2022
Finance Bill

"What consideration have the Government given to taxation of those who benefited during covid? The National Audit Office states that the Government invested £368 billion in the economy through furlough and various other pieces of support, but the people who received that money passed it on. Far from trickling down, …..."
Clive Efford - View Speech

View all Clive Efford (Lab - Eltham and Chislehurst) contributions to the debate on: Finance Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Nov 2022
Finance Bill

"rose—..."
Clive Efford - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Nov 2022
Finance Bill

"I absolutely agree with everything that the Minister just said, but the truth is that the money paid to people in furlough and to small businesses was passed on. That money was used to repay loans, to pay rent and to pay the lease. People have paid their mortgages. The …..."
Clive Efford - View Speech

View all Clive Efford (Lab - Eltham and Chislehurst) contributions to the debate on: Finance Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Nov 2022
Finance Bill

"Will the Minister give way?..."
Clive Efford - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Nov 2022
Finance Bill

"Any Government would have given the support that the Government gave at that time, so I accept everything that the Minister said about that, but where is the money now? There has been £368 billion paid into the economy. Who has it now? Who benefited from it? Should we not …..."
Clive Efford - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Nov 2022
Finance Bill

"I was struck by a quote I read a while back of the head of the Institute for Public Policy Research centre for economic justice, as it sums up the problem we face as a country:

“There is a massive structural flaw in the economy that whatever the economic shock …..."

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Nov 2022
Finance Bill

"My hon. Friend’s intervention speaks for itself and I absolutely agree; that is an example of where this Government go wrong by treating the wealthy differently from others.

During covid, the number of millionaires and billionaires grew; we have the highest number of billionaires ever in The Times rich list …..."

Clive Efford - View Speech

View all Clive Efford (Lab - Eltham and Chislehurst) contributions to the debate on: Finance Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 17 Oct 2022
Economic Update

"The Chancellor is taking plaudits for having calmed the markets, but he has not resolved the problem—he has just stopped it getting worse. Gilts will still cost more so borrowing will still cost more for the Government in perpetuity, which will have an impact on people’s mortgage rates. Does he …..."
Clive Efford - View Speech

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