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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 24 Oct 2019
The Economy

"It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Newport West (Ruth Jones).

It is a new Session of Parliament, but we are still hearing the same old ideas from the Government. This was not a Queen’s Speech offering a serious programme for government; it was a …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: The Economy
Written Question
Low Pay: Young People
Monday 7th October 2019

Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to tackle low pay amongst workers aged 21 and below.

Answered by Rishi Sunak

Each year the Government asks the Low Pay Commission to recommend minimum wage rates for younger people that are as high as possible without damaging their employment prospects. All the National Minimum Wage rates for younger workers saw above inflation increases in April 2019. The Low Pay Commission will make recommendations for the April 2020 rates later in the autumn. Alongside changes to the minimum wage, the Government is taking action to support young people to gain the skills they need to succeed in the labour market, including the rollout of T Levels from September 2020, which will provide students with clear pathways to a well-paid skilled job.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 09 Jul 2019
Devolved Administrations: Borrowing Powers

"The hon. Gentleman is making a good point about the limited borrowing powers in the Scottish Parliament, which do not match the growing taxation powers. Yesterday, the Foreign Secretary ruled out more economic powers for the Scottish Parliament in his Tory leadership bid. Would the hon. Gentleman agree that the …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Devolved Administrations: Borrowing Powers
Written Question
Consumers: Expenditure
Monday 1st July 2019

Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the change in the level of consumer spending in the UK.

Answered by John Glen

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces both quarterly and annual estimates of household final consumption expenditure (HHFCE).

Household consumption grew by 1.8% in 2018, supported by a strong labour market which has seen the unemployment rate at its lowest since 1975, and regular wages outstripping inflation for over a year. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast consumption to grow in every year of their forecast.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 25 Jun 2019
Beer Duty Rates

"I worked in the pub trade for 10 years. One of my first and most enjoyable jobs was working at the Windmill Tavern and the Gates Bar in my constituency. That was a long time ago, but those pubs survive. Sadly, I know a lot of landlords who knew then, …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Beer Duty Rates
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 25 Jun 2019
Beer Duty Rates

"I am a non-alcoholic. I do not drink. I have done the pub trade for 10 years and I have never drank. I enjoy the social side of going to a pub and meeting people. Where publicans are really struggling now is with business rates. Pubs are community hubs, and …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Beer Duty Rates
Written Question
Cash Dispensing: Scotland
Tuesday 18th June 2019

Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to improve free access to cash in Scotland.

Answered by John Glen

The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains important to the day-to-day lives of many people and small businesses in Scotland and across the UK.

The UK has one of the most extensive free-to-use ATM networks in the world; around 80% of the ATM network in Scotland is free and there are now around 700 more free ATMs in Scotland compared to 2015. From January 2018 to March 2019, there were no publicly accessible Protected ATMs in Scotland that closed which did not have alternative free access to cash via another source, such as a Post Office.

In addition, the Government is engaging, and will continue to engage, with the regulators and industry on this important topic. In 2015, the Government established the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), with a statutory objective to ensure that the UK’s payment systems work in the interests of their users. As a result, the PSR is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision, and has used its powers to ensure LINK meets its commitment on maintaining the broad geographical spread of free-to-use ATMs.

To support this, LINK has introduced premiums through its Financial Inclusion programme to boost interchange fees, helping protect ATMs in remote, rural and deprived locations.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 May 2019
Debt Collection Letters

"The right hon. Gentleman gave two powerful examples. This is reality. This is life. People are getting these letters and thinking about committing suicide. After a decade of austerity, things are not improving. Does he agree that it is time that the Government gave new guidelines to stop these letters …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Debt Collection Letters
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 May 2019
Debt Collection Letters

"Sometimes a letter gets passed on to another debt collection agency and then another, so pressure is being put on individuals all the time. If I remember rightly, each time a letter is passed on more money is added on. I ask the Minister to have a look at that...."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Debt Collection Letters
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 May 2019
Financial Exclusion: Access to Cash

"The banks are closing down everywhere and are using the excuse that we can use post offices to access cash. Yesterday it was announced that 1,000 post offices are to go and more to follow. Sub-postmasters are not making the same money as the banks. That is now going to …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Financial Exclusion: Access to Cash