Economic Update Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Economic Update

Saqib Bhatti Excerpts
Thursday 3rd February 2022

(2 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rishi Sunak Portrait Rishi Sunak
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We have had this debate. Conservatives believe in more investment in our domestic energy sector. We want to support British jobs and British energy security and we believe in doing the right, responsible thing. That is what a responsible Conservative Government do.

Saqib Bhatti Portrait Saqib Bhatti (Meriden) (Con)
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I thank my right hon. Friend for these packages, which will help my constituents across my constituency. On the issue of a windfall tax, will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Labour party’s call for a windfall tax would undermine competition in the market, reduce investment and kill off jobs? Ultimately it would mean that energy prices were likely to be higher for longer and hit the poorest the hardest.

Rishi Sunak Portrait Rishi Sunak
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My hon. Friend is exactly right. Some 200,000 jobs are supported in that industry, and as I pointed out earlier, there are £11 billion-worth of projects waiting to get going. I would like to see those projects go ahead, which will be good for the country’s energy security, good for our economy and good for jobs. I know that the Energy Minister and I share that ambition.