To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the provision of low value consignment relief on entertainment products sold by mail order from the Channel Islands on independent high street entertainment stores.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the provision of low value consignment relief on entertainment products sold by mail order from the Channel Islands on independent high street entertainment stores.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to remove low value consignment relief for (a) music and (b) other entertainment products sold by mail order from the Channel Islands.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to remove low value consignment relief for (a) music and (b) other entertainment products sold by mail order from the Channel Islands.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with (a) the European Commission, (b) multiple retailers and (c) independent stores on the effects of low value consignment relief on (i) music and (ii) the general entertainment industry.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with (a) the European Commission, (b) multiple retailers and (c) independent stores on the effects of low value consignment relief on (i) music and (ii) the general entertainment industry.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue foregone by the Exchequer due to the provision of low value consignment relief in each of the last five years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue foregone by the Exchequer due to the provision of low value consignment relief in each of the last five years.

I thank my parliamentary neighbour for giving way. Is she saying that the evidence is already there that the VAT rise is hurting the economy, as I believe it is, or that we need a review to see whether it is doing so?

I thank my parliamentary neighbour for giving way. Is she saying that the evidence is already there that the VAT rise is hurting the economy, as I believe it is, or that we need a review to see whether it is doing so?

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

Diolch yn fawr, Mr Speaker. I had an hour-long speech prepared for this debate, but as it is going well past my bedtime, I will try to keep my remarks as short as possible. I move this new clause with a sense of déjà vu, as only last July I...

Diolch yn fawr, Mr Speaker. I had an hour-long speech prepared for this debate, but as it is going well past my bedtime, I will try to keep my remarks as short as possible. I move this new clause with a sense of déjà vu, as only last July I...

Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. Interestingly, when the House divided on that amendment the Labour party abstained. Since then, it seems that the official Opposition's main critique of the UK Government's economic policy has been based on the Treasury's VAT policy. I hope that when we divide later...

Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. Interestingly, when the House divided on that amendment the Labour party abstained. Since then, it seems that the official Opposition's main critique of the UK Government's economic policy has been based on the Treasury's VAT policy. I hope that when we divide later...

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that I am in a different party from those on the shadow Front Bench and we do not normally negotiate on the clauses we table. I can only assume that my staff are more effective. Richard Banks, the chief executive of UK Asset Resolution,...

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that I am in a different party from those on the shadow Front Bench and we do not normally negotiate on the clauses we table. I can only assume that my staff are more effective. Richard Banks, the chief executive of UK Asset Resolution,...

The hon. Gentleman makes an interesting point and I hope that the shadow Minister will be able to address it much better than I could. Debt charities such as Citizens Advice report that the amount of debt problems dealt with by the service continues to increase, as the human cost...

The hon. Gentleman makes an interesting point and I hope that the shadow Minister will be able to address it much better than I could. Debt charities such as Citizens Advice report that the amount of debt problems dealt with by the service continues to increase, as the human cost...

We will have to wait and see. I just hope that my words are powerful enough to entice them to come through the Lobby with us, but I am afraid we will have to wait until a little later in the evening. I was talking about one positive reason for...

We will have to wait and see. I just hope that my words are powerful enough to entice them to come through the Lobby with us, but I am afraid we will have to wait until a little later in the evening. I was talking about one positive reason for...

As the hon. Gentleman rightly says, I am proposing a temporary cut and I am endeavouring to convey that the priority of the Treasury should be securing sustained economic growth. In my view, the increase in VAT is hindering that. That is my key point. Older people and pensioners who...

As the hon. Gentleman rightly says, I am proposing a temporary cut and I am endeavouring to convey that the priority of the Treasury should be securing sustained economic growth. In my view, the increase in VAT is hindering that. That is my key point. Older people and pensioners who...

We have had a very interesting debate, although I find myself somewhat confused by the voting intentions of hon. Members. We will see in a few moments. I shall not press new clause 6 to a Division, because it proposes a permanent reduction in VAT. New clause 9, however, proposes...

We have had a very interesting debate, although I find myself somewhat confused by the voting intentions of hon. Members. We will see in a few moments. I shall not press new clause 6 to a Division, because it proposes a permanent reduction in VAT. New clause 9, however, proposes...

May I clarify my position? I have a note from the House of Commons Library to me:"““NC9 finds an alternative way of doing the same thing as NC6 (i.e. decreasing the rate of VAT), only on an exclusively temporary basis. It does this by means of the Economic Regulator, which...

May I clarify my position? I have a note from the House of Commons Library to me:"““NC9 finds an alternative way of doing the same thing as NC6 (i.e. decreasing the rate of VAT), only on an exclusively temporary basis. It does this by means of the Economic Regulator, which...

I agree with many of the points that the hon. Lady is making in her thoughtful speech. However, my recollection of last year's Finance Bill debate is that the House divided on a Plaid Cymru and Scottish National party motion to overturn the decision to increase VAT, and the Labour...

I agree with many of the points that the hon. Lady is making in her thoughtful speech. However, my recollection of last year's Finance Bill debate is that the House divided on a Plaid Cymru and Scottish National party motion to overturn the decision to increase VAT, and the Labour...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

We support the Bill and the right hon. Gentleman's new clause because we fear that the measure will not go far enough and that an annual report would show the need for further countervailing measures. Does he agree?

We support the Bill and the right hon. Gentleman's new clause because we fear that the measure will not go far enough and that an annual report would show the need for further countervailing measures. Does he agree?

In general we support the Bill, not because we think it will make much of a difference—as we have heard, the take-up has been far from promising so far—but because it is recognition by the UK Government that the UK's economy is geographically unbalanced and that action needs to be...

In general we support the Bill, not because we think it will make much of a difference—as we have heard, the take-up has been far from promising so far—but because it is recognition by the UK Government that the UK's economy is geographically unbalanced and that action needs to be...

In the light of the situation that he has explained applies in England, does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is reckless for the Conservatives in Wales to promise in the forthcoming National Assembly elections to increase spending on health above the retail prices index?

In the light of the situation that he has explained applies in England, does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is reckless for the Conservatives in Wales to promise in the forthcoming National Assembly elections to increase spending on health above the retail prices index?