Tuesday, 16 March 1993
The House met at half-past Two o'clock
[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of students entering TEC courses in the Sheffield area (a) complete their course and (b) obtain employment when they finish.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will give figures on employment levels in manufacturing industry in each year since 1979.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures she intends to bring foward to assist the unemployed in the east midlands.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how effective the jobcentres in Gloucestershire have been in placing people back into work.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps the TECs have taken to encourage the provision of child care in the west midlands.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of the performance of job clubs in Wales.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what attention her Department is giving to the needs of those who work and also care for relatives.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to encourage work in the community.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unfilled vacancies are currently recorded by her Department; and what is the extent of duplication of these numbers where vacancies are...
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research her Department is currently undertaking into workfare; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of the need for retraining of those in jobs to meet present and future job requirements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is her estimate of the numbers working in the public sector earning less than the Council of Europe's low pay threshold analysed between (a)...
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of redundancies in the west midlands in the last quarter for which figures are available.
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures she is bringing forward to assist the unemployed in east Hertfordshire.
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16 March.
Before I call the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it may be for the convenience of hon. Members if I remind them that, at the end of the Chancellor's speech, copies of the Budget resolutions will be...
It is impossible to review the short-term prospects for the British economy without first considering what is happening in the world outside. Many people talk as if Britain's economic problems...
While activity has been falling in many parts of the world, GDP in Britain rose slightly in the second half of last year. With interest rates down by four percentage points in just six months,...
In my Mansion House speech, I announced the establishment of the panel of independent forecasters. My intention in doing so was to demonstrate more clearly that the judgments the Government have...
The key to an improved trade performance lies in the competitiveness of our products, and the signs are encouraging. Earnings are now growing more slowly than at any time for 25 years. Labour...
Supply side improvements are seldom the stuff of headlines, but the policies that this Government have pursued have begun to improve the way that markets work. We have transferred to private...
However, if long-term improvements in economic performance are determined largely by the supply side, we have seen all too often in the past 20 years how short-term prospects can be blown off...
I turn now to funding, a subject of peculiar fascination for many City commentators and of particular interest to a number of my right hon. and hon. Friends. The Government's full fund policy...
In controlling inflation, monetary policy must of course be supported by a sustainable fiscal policy. I expect a PSBR in the current financial year of £35 billion—slightly lower than...
In doing so I have had to balance two key objectives: first, the essential task of helping recovery; secondly, the need to tackle the deficit so that the recovery will be sustained. I believe...
The proposals I shall be announcing today are part of a continuing programme of tax reform—a programme which has strengthened work incentives and improved the efficiency of the economy. In...
The first is income tax. With inflation down to levels not seen for a generation, I propose for the year ahead to freeze the personal allowances, the married couple's and related allowances, the...
The second is excise duties. The removal of customs controls at the channel has been welcomed by many thousands of travellers who are now seeing the benefits of the single market at first hand....
Alongside the increase in fuel duties, I propose to increase by 20 per cent. the scale charges for free fuel supplied to company car drivers for private use. I also propose to abolish the 50 per...
I turn next to the tax treatment of company cars. From its introduction in 1976 until 1988, the income tax charge on company cars significantly under-estimated their true value. Since then,...
In addition, I intend to close a number of loopholes which have been exploited by people to avoid tax. First, from midnight last night I propose to exclude from the business expansion scheme all...
Before leaving my proposals for 1993–94, I wish to make clear the position on stamp duties on securities and property other than land and buildings. Following the decision by the Stock...
Before I turn to business taxes, I intend to set out my tax proposals for 1994–95 and the years thereafter. As I have already explained, these tax proposals will build up over the years,...
In my autumn statement, I took some tough decisions on current spending to maintain capital programmes, but, to protect the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, we also decided to...
One of the main objectives of this Government's tax reforms has been to eliminate tax rules which distort investment decisions. This was the driving force, for example, behind the far-reaching...
I turn now to another area where reform is long overdue—the tax treatment of job-related relocation expenses.
I turn now to mortgage interest relief. The rapid expansion of home ownership is one of this Government's most enduring achievements, and I have no plans to change the existing ceiling for...
In recent years, there has been much debate on the subject of global warming and the role that tax measures can play in combating it. This has led the European Commission to propose a...
As the House is aware, the Government have embarked on a major drive to reduce the burden of regulation on industry. I will therefore start with three significant measures of deregulation, which...
My third announcement is of particular interest to smaller businesses.
Reducing the Government's borrowing requirement will benefit business by ensuring that the recovery is sustained, but, as I said in my Mansion House speech last October, the Government are...
In discussions with business organisations over the last few months, one issue has come up again and again—the problem of surplus advance corporation tax, or ACT. Many believe that this...
The House will be relieved to hear that my next measure is a little less opaque, but it is equally important for the long-term success of British manufacturing.
Over the years, one of Britain's most successful exporting industries has been insurance, but for some years now the industry has argued that the tax reliefs available to some of their European...
I also propose to introduce a significant reform of the tax regime for Lloyd's. I propose to tax the gains on the disposal of assets which form the premiums funds of Lloyd's names in the same way...
The measures I have announced so far will be of help particularly to large businesses, but small firms play a crucial role in our economy. Small businesses do not follow the economy; they lead...
Following heavy losses in recent years, the banks are bound to be more cautious in their lending in future. Moreover, the fall in property prices has reduced the security for many of their loans....
My second measure relates specifically to entrepreneurs who have built up successful businesses and now wish to sell them in order to start up a new one.
I turn now to the VAT regime, which for many small businesses takes up a great deal of time and can be a particular source of worry. The best way to help is to keep them out of the VAT system...
Over the past couple of years, I have also announced measures to allow traders to reclaim VAT on debts which remain unpaid after 12 months, and to encourage firms to take advantage of the cash...
In addition, I have a further series of reforms to propose to the current system of VAT penalties.
I have one final reform of the VAT penalty system. Following Lord Keith's 1983 review, the Government concluded that it would be wrong to give Customs discretion over the level of VAT penalties....
I have already announced my intention to extend value added tax to domestic fuel and power from 1 April next year. I have one further announcement to make on VAT.
I have one final announcement, which will be of direct help to many businesses.
The House is aware, also, of the Government's plans to introduce a national lottery from next year. This will provide a substantial increase in resources for a number of good causes: charities,...
In the autumn statement, the Government announced a number of measures to help the unemployed, and in my Budget I have set out my further proposals to help business and sustain recovery. That it...
Mr. Deputy Speaker, in my autumn statement I announced significant changes to the rules for the private financing of major infrastructure projects. This initiative has met with an enthusiastic...
I turn finally to income tax. My priority in this Budget has been to set out a clear strategy for reducing public sector borrowing over the medium term. I am therefore unable this year to reduce...
In the first Budget of this Parliament, I have set out the Government's economic strategy. I have cut the tax burden on business; and given help for small businesses, exports and the unemployed....
Motion made, and Question,That, pursuant to section 5 of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968, provisional statutory effect shall be given to the following motions:— (a) Beer (rate:...
Motion made, and Question proposed,That it is expedient to amend the law with respect to the National Debt and the public revenue and to make further provision in connection with finance; but...
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn—[Mr. Kirkhope.]
Debates in the House of Commons are an opportunity for MPs from all parties to scrutinise government legislation and raise important local, national or topical issues.
And sometimes to shout at each other.
