Budget Leak Inquiry Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Budget Leak Inquiry

Derek Twigg Excerpts
Thursday 22nd March 2012

(12 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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I agree. The focus on process not substance is very revealing.

Derek Twigg Portrait Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)
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I congratulate the Minister on some excellent press management this morning, and on the headlines, which have been very helpful to us. But I want to be helpful, so that he can be specific about the area of suspicion. Can he now say that no Treasury Minister directly, or special adviser indirectly on their behalf, gave information to the press about any Budget measures prior to the Budget yesterday?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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Just to be clear, I will give the hon. Gentleman a Budget measure that was confirmed yesterday: personal tax statements. Ministers were aware that we were going to inform the press about personal tax statements, so the question he asks is extremely broad. There were measures announced yesterday in which Ministers were involved, but I am not aware of any Minister being aware of the briefing of market-sensitive information.