"In June 2010, we were told that we had to have an emergency Budget. Even at that stage, one of the strange things about that was that many of the measures were so un-emergency that they did not have to come in until the following January. To a large extent, …..." Sheila Gilmore - View Speech
"We have heard the argument that if we reduce taxes, we get more revenue in. Of course, it is usually heard in relation to the 50p rate of tax, but that was a very poor example. It hardly had any effect, and so many people made their own arrangements before …..." Sheila Gilmore - View Speech
"Tax revenues have been falling, and the whole issue about low wages is extremely important.
We have had discussions in the House about zero-hours contracts. I think it was the hon. Member for Dover (Charlie Elphicke) who said today that Labour had done nothing about them for 13 years. I …..." Sheila Gilmore - View Speech
"I am pleased to hear the hon. Gentleman say that he agrees with the Smith commission’s proposals, as I do. Does he accept that the Scottish Government could, if they wished, issue planning guidance that would prevent fracking, as they have in relation to nuclear power?..." Sheila Gilmore - View Speech
"When I last asked the Transport Secretary about this issue on 8 May, he said that the reason Directly Operated Railways would be at a disadvantage and therefore could not take part in the competition was that it was funded through the taxpayer, yet both parts of Keolis-Eurostar are currently …..." Sheila Gilmore - View Speech
"T2. East Coast’s current operator, Directly Operated Railways, was barred from bidding for the east coast franchise. The Secretary of State presumably welcomes the bid from Eurostar-Keolis, which is largely owned by French state railways. Is it not time to change policy and to allow Directly Operated Railways to bid …..." Sheila Gilmore - View Speech
"Infrastructure projects in the UK appear to follow a pattern, as I have experienced with our trams project in Edinburgh. The trams project, when we consider the size of the spend as a proportion of Edinburgh’s economy, is probably quite similar to HS2 in the UK.
"Sir David Higgins stresses the importance of existing lines and HS2 working together. Will the Secretary of State reconsider the current plans for trains from Scotland to Birmingham and London to bypass Manchester and Leeds? Is this an opportunity to reconsider the possibility of linking them up?..." Sheila Gilmore - View Speech