Finance (No. 3) Bill

Part of Industrial Relations (Voting Procedures) – in the House of Commons at 9:11 pm on 26 April 2011.

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Photo of Alec Shelbrooke Alec Shelbrooke Conservative, Elmet and Rothwell 9:11, 26 April 2011

I welcome the Finance Bill in so many ways, many of which are to do with creating growth and jobs. The former Chancellor, Mr Darling, noted in his comments after the Budget that it will create growth, so it is interesting that some of the newer members of the shadow Cabinet on the one hand praise him for the things he said but on the other ignore his praise for a Budget that creates growth.

The Budget is helping to rebalance the economy, which is never an easy thing. We need to get more from private sector, as we have been over-reliant on the public sector. An important point that is often missed when discussing the private and public sectors and whether the Government should spend more money here or there is that the Government do not have any money. It is not our money; it is the public’s money. It is the money we take off people and businesses and from trading throughout the world. It is not our money for us to do with as we like. It is the public’s money, and we should ensure that we deal with it responsibly.