Former Labour MP for Bolton West
Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that by far the main cause of those high deficits is the operation of the automatic stabilisers?
It is always a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable). I always enjoy his arguments, about half of which I fully and strongly support, and half of which I disagree with vehemently. However, he makes his arguments with great authority and I am pleased that he has now converted his party to the idea of a fiscal stimulus. Not many weeks ago, he argued that any tax cuts,...
My hon. Friend is right in parts. Of course, the overwhelming problem was deflation, but how the world reacts to deflation decides whether it will manage to come out of it properly. There is always a case, in specific areas, for really well targeted tariff protection, but overall, the world system has to remain open to growth. We have to accept that 70 per cent. of world trade comes from...
I do accept that, but I want to go on to quote the Governor of the Bank of England, whom the hon. Gentleman is so fond of quoting, who so pithily expressed it by saying that "banks are global in life and national in death." That is precisely the opposite argument to the one that the Conservative party has been making. In other words, of course Britain was exposed to the global economic...
The right hon. Gentleman's Front-Bench colleagues are arguing that the only thing we need to do in this recession is to try to get our national banks, and international banks based in London, lending more to people who want to borrow for mortgages and businesses here. I see he is distancing himself from their remarks. I think there is a danger there, too, as I said in an intervention on the...
Does the hon. Gentleman accept that if every country followed the French model that he proposes, there would be a real danger of financial nationalism, which would in itself pose a threat to a global economic recovery?
It is a great pleasure for me to be able to take part in this debate on an issue that I have dealt with in the past. I want to support the position of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, who has taken decisions that have been incredibly brave but also vital for our nation's economic future. Aviation in general, not just the question whether to have a third runway at Heathrow, has had...
I do not agree with that for one second. In fact, regional economic growth would be hampered massively if runway capacity at Heathrow were rationed and constrained in future. I am seriously concerned about the impact on climate change.
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local authorities (a) ensure that the full £100 Child Trust Fund annual payments for looked-after children are put in their individual account and (b) have used all or part of these payments for other purposes.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the performance of stakeholder Child Trust Funds managed by the Official Solicitor or Accountant of Court on behalf of looked-after children.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of Child Trust Funds managed by the Official Solicitor or Accountant of Court on behalf of looked-after children have been re-allocated to a different provider following concerns about investment performance.
I recently announced record funding of £140 million to Cycling England to support local authorities and others to improve cycling provision. The Department has also asked local authorities to develop cycling strategies through their local transport plans.
The Government welcomes the initiative announced in July by Eurostar, as part of Railteam, to give travellers seamless high-speed train travel across international borders. From 2009 their new distribution system will allow international travellers to purchase, make a reservation and receive tickets for Railteam members' services from any distributor of European rail tickets in one...
Department for Transport Ministers regularly meet with ministerial colleagues in the course of performing their ministerial duties. Information relating to private meetings, discussion and advice is not normally disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of discussion. There is regular discussion at official level between this Department and the Home Office regarding security...
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 28 June 2007, Official Report, (PQ 137436).
The £6 million funding for the Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund was sourced from the New Ventures Fund.
