Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Gauke and Flick Drummond

Tuesday 17th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)]

The Government and the relevant agency recognise the importance of the employees who work in this sector, but it is necessary to have terms and conditions that reflect the modern situation that applies across the economy as a whole.

[Mrs Flick Drummond (Portsmouth South) (Con)]

T7. The Solent region has a deficit of 6% in its gross value added compared with the rest of the south-east. Much of that is due to the lack of investment in local transport infrastructure; for example, there has been no significant rail investment for 50 years. Can Ministers confirm that the new national productivity investment fund can be used to address that deficit?

[Mr Gauke]

I can say to my hon. Friend that the very purpose of the national productivity investment fund is to support economic growth across all regions of the country. Further details specifying how and where the fund will be invested will be set out by the relevant Departments and agencies in due course. The Solent will not be forgotten, and we are taking action to improve rail services, with a new franchise expected to deliver more services and quicker journey times on South West Trains.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Gauke and Flick Drummond

Tuesday 7th June 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

The first point of which I must remind the shadow Chancellor is that all settlements are reached by HMRC. Operational matters are rightly for HMRC, and not for Treasury Ministers. Of course if there is new evidence, HMRC will take it into account. The position is that HMRC has made it very clear that, under the law that existed between 2005 and 2015, it believes that it has reached a settlement that ensures that the right amount of tax has been collected—and that is what its job is. Our job is to ensure that it has the tools and the rules, and that is what we are delivering.

[Mrs Flick Drummond (Portsmouth South) (Con)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.