Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Perran Moon Excerpts
Tuesday 10th March 2026

(1 day, 10 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rachel Reeves Portrait Rachel Reeves
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Debt is lower in every year of the forecast that I published last week than it was in the plans that I set out in the Budget just back in November. The fiscal rules that I introduced in the October after I became Chancellor said, first of all, that we had to balance day-to-day spending with tax receipts, and that is important. They also stated that, subject to getting debt down as a share of GDP, we could invest in the things that can actually grow the economy. The right hon. Gentleman and I both know that growth is the best way to ensure that our public finances are sustainable, and that we improve living standards for working people.

Perran Moon Portrait Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth) (Lab)
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The Government’s new industrial strategy has signposted a path to further economic growth and prosperity. There are certain regions of the UK that can play a significant role in this growth, so would Treasury Ministers consider working with the Department for Business and Trade to make Cornwall an industrial strategy zone?

Rachel Reeves Portrait Rachel Reeves
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In the Budget last year, we introduced the Kernow growth fund to support the Cornish economy because of its specific strengths around critical minerals, defence and clean energy. The National Wealth Fund and the wider Government will do everything we can to unlock the huge opportunities that we know exist in Cornwall.