The hon. Gentleman has mentioned dates when proposals were put forward. There was one year, 2006, I think—it may have been 2007—when no proposal came from anyone for a fuel duty regulator. Why was that?

The hon. Gentleman has mentioned dates when proposals were put forward. There was one year, 2006, I think—it may have been 2007—when no proposal came from anyone for a fuel duty regulator. Why was that?

I want to look at what the Bill does for the economy, the country and the people of our nations. What does it mean in terms of jobs, growth and fairness? After the global recession, there needed to be tough decisions on tax and spending and how best we pay...

I want to look at what the Bill does for the economy, the country and the people of our nations. What does it mean in terms of jobs, growth and fairness? After the global recession, there needed to be tough decisions on tax and spending and how best we pay...

I thank my hon. Friend for her intervention. There is no doubt that there are myriad different experiences out there in our communities, towns, cities and villages. To keep their jobs, people are deciding to take pay cuts or to work fewer hours, and that is tragic, because when that...

I thank my hon. Friend for her intervention. There is no doubt that there are myriad different experiences out there in our communities, towns, cities and villages. To keep their jobs, people are deciding to take pay cuts or to work fewer hours, and that is tragic, because when that...

Only in certain respects. The hon. Gentleman talks about mortgage interest rates; I am sure that he does not need me to remind him that not every household has a mortgage. Some families are finding it difficult to pay their rent, let alone a mortgage. That is why I make...

Only in certain respects. The hon. Gentleman talks about mortgage interest rates; I am sure that he does not need me to remind him that not every household has a mortgage. Some families are finding it difficult to pay their rent, let alone a mortgage. That is why I make...

My hon. Friend has hit the nail on the head. Government Members talk about the Labour Government's overspending, but I cannot recall a single occasion in the time I have been in the House when any of them talked about not wanting a hospital or school built in their constituency....

My hon. Friend has hit the nail on the head. Government Members talk about the Labour Government's overspending, but I cannot recall a single occasion in the time I have been in the House when any of them talked about not wanting a hospital or school built in their constituency....

I assure the Chief Secretary that I have cooled down—I do not take much cooling down. In the run-up to the 2010 general election, he and his Liberal colleagues made abundantly clear what they wanted to do with personal allowances to take some people out of paying income tax. Did...

I assure the Chief Secretary that I have cooled down—I do not take much cooling down. In the run-up to the 2010 general election, he and his Liberal colleagues made abundantly clear what they wanted to do with personal allowances to take some people out of paying income tax. Did...

Is the Chief Secretary now in a position—he was not in the early days after the announcement—to clarify matters on hot food takeaways, particularly pasties and pies? If a product is freshly baked and hot, but then allowed to cool down, is it sold with VAT added or not?

Is the Chief Secretary now in a position—he was not in the early days after the announcement—to clarify matters on hot food takeaways, particularly pasties and pies? If a product is freshly baked and hot, but then allowed to cool down, is it sold with VAT added or not?

I welcome the right hon. Gentleman to his new post. He will recollect that towards the end of the last Parliament the entire House agreed to an increase in disability living allowance for blind people. Will he give the House a guarantee that he will not go back on that...

I welcome the right hon. Gentleman to his new post. He will recollect that towards the end of the last Parliament the entire House agreed to an increase in disability living allowance for blind people. Will he give the House a guarantee that he will not go back on that...

Can the hon. Gentleman explain to the House why members of his party sat on their hands when an amendment was tabled for last year's Budget?

Can the hon. Gentleman explain to the House why members of his party sat on their hands when an amendment was tabled for last year's Budget?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman should not read too much into the number of Members who have signed early-day motions. I, for one, have not signed an early-day motion on this matter, but I can assure him that within two to three weeks of last year's Budget, I was sitting at...

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman should not read too much into the number of Members who have signed early-day motions. I, for one, have not signed an early-day motion on this matter, but I can assure him that within two to three weeks of last year's Budget, I was sitting at...

If the hon. Gentleman hangs around and I manage to catch Mr. Deputy Speaker's eye, he may well hear what I have to say about that.

If the hon. Gentleman hangs around and I manage to catch Mr. Deputy Speaker's eye, he may well hear what I have to say about that.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that although the tax credit system has been a boost to the incomes of many households, any household that has fallen foul of the system will be reluctant to get involved with it again in case it receives an overpayment that has to be...

Does my right hon. Friend agree that although the tax credit system has been a boost to the incomes of many households, any household that has fallen foul of the system will be reluctant to get involved with it again in case it receives an overpayment that has to be...

No, I am not giving up. The comments made have been to the effect that the issue can be reviewed and looked at. I urge the Chancellor and his team to consider seriously the offer made this afternoon by my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dunbartonshire: an answer...

No, I am not giving up. The comments made have been to the effect that the issue can be reviewed and looked at. I urge the Chancellor and his team to consider seriously the offer made this afternoon by my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dunbartonshire: an answer...

I am not saying that at all, and the hon. Gentleman should know better than to try to put words into my mouth from across the Chamber. There has been an error that affects many people in this country. As I say, it is the duty of this Labour Government...

I am not saying that at all, and the hon. Gentleman should know better than to try to put words into my mouth from across the Chamber. There has been an error that affects many people in this country. As I say, it is the duty of this Labour Government...

I am not convinced that the hon. Gentleman is right. We have to look. Undoubtedly, there were a number of Members—probably on both sides of the House—who knew that there was an issue. Has the hon. Gentleman's party, knowing that there was a problem, merely sat quietly and brought the...

I am not convinced that the hon. Gentleman is right. We have to look. Undoubtedly, there were a number of Members—probably on both sides of the House—who knew that there was an issue. Has the hon. Gentleman's party, knowing that there was a problem, merely sat quietly and brought the...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. The current and the previous Chancellor have obviously watched the increase very carefully in recent years. If the price of crude oil was seriously to increase, and crept up towards $200 a barrel, we would need to look at the issue in...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. The current and the previous Chancellor have obviously watched the increase very carefully in recent years. If the price of crude oil was seriously to increase, and crept up towards $200 a barrel, we would need to look at the issue in...

I was about to come to a point that may provide the hon. Gentleman with some answer. I am not absolutely convinced on the subject, but I am prepared to give those involved the benefit of the doubt. I would like to know whether someone got their calculations wrong. Or...

I was about to come to a point that may provide the hon. Gentleman with some answer. I am not absolutely convinced on the subject, but I am prepared to give those involved the benefit of the doubt. I would like to know whether someone got their calculations wrong. Or...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady). The top priority of the Budget was to ensure the country's economic stability not only for today but for tomorrow and into the future. The Budget sets out a number of measures to support...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady). The top priority of the Budget was to ensure the country's economic stability not only for today but for tomorrow and into the future. The Budget sets out a number of measures to support...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way once again. If Labour Members are looking for some kind of saviour and an answer to the issue, we did not get one from the main opposition party. Can he give an indication of what his party would do? I honestly believe...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way once again. If Labour Members are looking for some kind of saviour and an answer to the issue, we did not get one from the main opposition party. Can he give an indication of what his party would do? I honestly believe...

I agree wholeheartedly with my right hon. Friend. I thought that we were at a stage in this House where we were all 100 per cent. behind making progress on green issues. Clearly, as he has pointed out, there was a fundamental flaw on this occasion. The Conservatives voted against...

I agree wholeheartedly with my right hon. Friend. I thought that we were at a stage in this House where we were all 100 per cent. behind making progress on green issues. Clearly, as he has pointed out, there was a fundamental flaw on this occasion. The Conservatives voted against...