Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 6th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Miss Smith]

It is absolutely extraordinary that the hon. Lady is unable to deal with any aspect of her own challenge on fiscal credibility. May I ask her whether she voted for the welfare cap that highlights the average family’s earnings within the example that she just gave?

[Mr Speaker]

I remind the House that Members ask the questions and Ministers answer them.

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

2. What fiscal steps he is taking to assist women facing high child care costs.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Order. When the House has calmed down a bit, I will gently and kindly remind the Chancellor that answers are to be about the responsibility for Government policy. It is pretty straightforward.

[Anna Soubry (Broxtowe) (Con)]

T2. Many Conservative Members have long believed that lower-paid workers should be moved out of paying income tax. Will the Chancellor confirm that next month’s increase in personal allowances will have a real benefit for hard-working families in Broxtowe, and can they be increased even more come the Budget, please?

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Patience rewarded: I call Mr Matthew Hancock.

[Matthew Hancock (West Suffolk) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Does my right hon. Friend agree with the statement made this morning:

“The last Labour government didn’t regulate the banks properly. That’s what caused the financial crisis”—

not my words but those of the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband)—or does he, like me, think that it was caused not just by a failure to regulate the banks but by the Labour Government spending more money than they had?