Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Virginia Crosbie Excerpts
Tuesday 15th March 2022

(2 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lucy Frazer Portrait Lucy Frazer
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The hon. Gentleman knows from the statistics announced this morning that wages are up in real terms compared with pre-pandemic levels. In fact, unemployment is now almost back to pre-pandemic levels, and is lower than in Canada, France, Italy, Spain and Australia. On his specific question, the North sea oil industry already contributes additional taxes through a 40% rate, which is double the amount that other corporations pay.

Virginia Crosbie Portrait Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con)
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My constituency has one of the lowest rates of gross value added in the UK and is desperately in need of jobs and investment. The island is known as “energy island” because we have wind, waves, solar, tidal and—hopefully—nuclear. I was delighted to hear the Chancellor mention nuclear and the fact that he has committed to the £120 million future nuclear enabling fund, but will he also commit to publishing the criteria and bidding process, so we can move at pace in this vital sector?

Lucy Frazer Portrait Lucy Frazer
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It is great to see the good work going on in my hon. Friend’s constituency. Of course, her question is for our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who I am sure is considering it carefully.