Comprehensive Spending Review Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Comprehensive Spending Review

Louise Mensch Excerpts
Wednesday 20th October 2010

(13 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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Of course there are difficult decisions today, but because of the decisions we have taken on the English health service and the English education system, Northern Ireland gets a relatively favourable settlement in comparison with some other parts of the country. We have also made the decision today on the Presbyterian Mutual Society and we want to work with the devolved Administration to ensure that people who have had no certainty for a long time can now get it and get some money for the savings they have lost. I promise the hon. Lady that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regularly raises with me issues about growth and investment in Northern Ireland. As I am sure the hon. Lady knows, he has lots of ideas for stimulating economic activity, and I believe he is going to bring forward his proposals later this year. We will all be able to participate in the debate about them at that time.

Louise Mensch Portrait Ms Louise Bagshawe (Corby) (Con)
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Does my right hon. Friend share my joy at the shadow Chancellor’s admission that the deficit must be reduced, and my mystification that he is apparently so bereft of ideas that today he sent an e-mail asking for “Answers on a postcard, please”?

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. I must ask for a very brief reply. I hope that the message will be received.