Results 1-20 of 4,435 for speaker:Mr Paul Boateng

Written Answers — Treasury: Civil Servants (Relocation) (7 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: The Departments for which the Chancellor is responsible, including HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs and Office of National Statistics, have a target to relocate 5,050 posts out of London and the South East by 2010. HM Revenue and Customs will contribute over 80 per cent. towards this target. In 2004–05, HM Revenue and Customs relocated 249 posts mainly to Cardiff, Bournemouth and...

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I remember it well.

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: rose—

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: Let me deal with this. I well remember our debate upstairs on stamp duty land tax. It was a good debate, and there was honest disagreement among hon. Members on both sides of the Committee about the desirability of those measures. We took the view that it was important to introduce the reform. We took the view that a potential could be realised given the contribution to regeneration of the...

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: indicated assent.

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. This is a somewhat shortened version of the Finance Bill. Owing to the Dissolution of Parliament, it now contains some 106 clauses, compared with the original 172 presented to the House. However, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor outlined in the Budget statement what we will be doing to maintain British stability and growth in the face...

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: The right hon. Gentleman is, uncharacteristically, indulging in pre-election hyperbole and has gone over the top. He knows that my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General takes any concerns about the tax credit system and its efficient working very seriously. I assure him that the measures are in place that will continue to ensure that the Inland Revenue and those responsible for this issue...

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I am fond of the hon. Gentleman, but I want to make some headway. I will then, of course, give way. I am sure that he has something interesting to say. In the meantime, the Bill introduces anti-avoidance measures in clauses 85 and 87 to 91 that seek to prevent avoidance when there are contrived claims of artificially high double tax relief—claims that are made against United Kingdom...

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I must first give way to the hon. Member for Aylesbury.

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I am glad that the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) raises that point. If he restrains his characteristic exuberance, he will hear me come to that provision in the fullness of time.

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: If I can make a little headway, I will of course give to the hon. Gentleman. I am sure that he also has interesting points to make. These measures reflect the Government's ongoing determination to ensure that our tax system is fair and competitive. Just last September, the World Bank ranked the UK first in Europe and seventh of the top 20 countries to conduct business in. In January 2004, the...

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: The hon. Gentleman makes an interesting point. Indeed, we miss his contributions from the Opposition Front Bench to our debates on the economy. I hope that those who currently occupy that Bench will reflect on the contribution that he might make to a future Opposition Front-Bench team. I know that the hon. Gentleman takes an interest in the film industry and I would have expected him to...

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I will make more headway before I consider giving way to Opposition Members who have points to make. Enhancing flexibility, tackling regulation and ensuring competitiveness inform the detail of this Bill and I will now turn to those matters. Clauses 10 to 13 mean that, this year, rates of capital gains tax and corporation tax will remain frozen, maintaining the 0 per cent. starting rate of...

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I do not recall mentioning that clause, but if I did, it was certainly in error. The clause that I referred to brings the time-limited stamp duty relief in disadvantaged areas to an end as the new better targeted local enterprise growth initiative drives forward local business-led regeneration.

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I will make more headway before I give way again.

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I will give way in a moment, because I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman has something interesting to say. The Bill also sets out key steps to ensuring that our country is prepared for the challenges of the future. For example, it is important that young people—first-time buyers—can have access to the housing market. I know that all of us are concerned about that in one way or...

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: We have had this discussion in the past. The hon. Gentleman knows that, as a result of the amendments that we have made, there is an increase in the yield. That is clear in the Red Book and we have never made any pretence otherwise, but we have focused and targeted the relief better. We have ensured that we are assisting first-time buyers. Doubling the threshold means that some 50 per cent....

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: We have focused relief where it can do the most good. I should have thought that everyone would welcome that. I do not recognise the presentation of the Budget that the right hon. Gentleman describes. The combined effect of the Budget measures is that revenues from residential property transactions are forecast to fall by £220 million and revenues from commercial property transactions...

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I am going to make more progress before once again giving way to Conservative Members.

Finance (No. 2) Bill (6 Apr 2005)

Mr Paul Boateng: I am sure that the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) does know about the matter, so it is a pity that he will not be sharing his knowledge with the House from the Front Bench, if he knows so much about it. Several of us who watch such things closely certainly have the view that he deserves to be there.