Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Gavin Shuker Excerpts
Tuesday 4th November 2014

(9 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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My hon. Friend makes a good point about the impact of business rates. That is of course why we have extended small business rate relief and helped 360,000 small properties. It is why we have offered the £1,000 high street discount to stores in Harrogate and elsewhere around the country. We are going to review the business rate system to make sure that it is simpler, fairer, more transparent and more responsive to economic circumstances, and he is very welcome to take part in that review.

Gavin Shuker Portrait Gavin Shuker (Luton South) (Lab/Co-op)
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T2. What is the link between the Chancellor’s £7 billion of unfunded tax cuts and his blocking of the OBR from auditing the tax and spend plans of other political parties ahead of the election? I suggest that the clue is in the question.

George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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Interestingly, we conducted an independent review by one of the Canadian officials involved in auditing their finances—