Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Harriett Baldwin and Simon Hoare

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin]

I will look into the matter the hon. Gentleman raises and write to him.

[Simon Hoare (North Dorset) (Con)]

Most of us in this place would welcome the announcement, made last week, with regard to the Type 26 ships. Does my right hon. Friend share my bemusement at the carping and pettifogging from some hon. Members about this rather welcome announcement?

National Insurance Contributions (Rate Ceilings) Bill

Debate between Harriett Baldwin and Simon Hoare

Tuesday 15th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin]

That gives me a welcome opportunity to state that every Labour Government in history has left office with more people out of work than when they came into office. This is the party of working people and we created many jobs during the last Parliament, which no one expected, and we continue to back businesses and their growth through this Bill.

[Simon Hoare (North Dorset) (Con)]

My hon. Friend may be ruing her invitation to Members to intervene. In a constituency such as mine, where the main focus of economic activity is on micro and small businesses, one of the first questions that a potential employer asks is how much it will cost to take on an additional person. That is the engine that will grow the economy, and the Bill is extremely welcome.

[Harriett Baldwin]

My hon. Friend’s point is well made, because in North Dorset and around the country it is the small and micro businesses that are the engines of job creation. That is why the employment allowance is so important—it will mean that a small business taking on its first employee will not have to pay employers national insurance at all under this Government. Indeed, if every small business took on just one extra employee, we would have full employment. That is why the Government back small businesses.