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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Clegg, Horwood and Barrett quiz Brown
January 29, 2009 11:12 AM
• [Jan 28]: ' . . WILL the Prime Minister support our private Member's Bill to force peers, who make the laws of this country, to pay their full taxes in this country?'
Nicholas Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam, Liberal Democrat): Does the Prime Minister think it is right that some Members of the upper House can use their status as non-domicile non-residents to get out of paying their full taxes here in this country?
David Clark: For many weeks Nick Clegg has asked very probing questions. He has let himself down on this occasion.?
Gordon Brown (Prime Minister; Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath, Labour): Of course it is not right.
• Nicholas Clegg: In that case, will he- [Interruption.] Hang on. Millions of ordinary British taxpayers are filing their tax returns this week. They are the ones who deserve a tax break, not the super-rich. So will the Prime Minister support our private Member's Bill to force peers, who make the laws of this country, to pay their full taxes in this country?
Gordon Brown: Where I would disagree with the right hon. Gentleman is to say that we are helping ordinary taxpayers in this country. We are raising personal allowances so that people will pay less tax; they will rise again in April as a result of the decisions in the pre-Budget report. We have cut VAT-and, if I may say so, the Institute for Fiscal Studies says today that that is a far more effective stimulus than critics are saying. Of course, we are also raising pensions and child benefit. Yes, we should take action against tax havens, but, yes also, we are helping ordinary taxpayers in this country.
. . • Martin Horwood (Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat): Which of these should concern the Prime Minister the most: powerful criticism of the south-west regional spatial strategy by hon. Members of all parties; the fantasy economic growth rate of 3.2 per cent. per annum that it is using; the green light that it has given developers to neglect the social urban and village housing that we actually need and head straight for treasured local countryside and green belt, damaging everything- [Interruption.]
Michael Martin (Speaker): Order. The hon. Gentleman must ask a question. [Interruption.] Well, perhaps the Prime Minister can try to answer it now.
Gordon Brown: May I say that in the hon. Gentleman's constituency, even after the recent rises in unemployment, long-term unemployment is still 75 per cent. down on what it was in 1997? We will of course look at what he says about the strategy and all the facts that he brings to bear on it, but no Government have done more to support industry and public investment in the region, and we will continue to do so.
• . . John Barrett (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat): One way to stimulate the economy in the north and south, tackle pollution and reduce the demand for increased airport capacity would be to invest in a national high-speed rail link. Why, after 12 years of this Labour Government, are we still waiting?
Gordon Brown: The hon. Gentleman will know that when the Secretary of State for Transport announced the proposals on Heathrow, he also announced our proposals to set up a company to pursue a high-speed rail link, and that is exactly what we intend to do. We are prepared to make a commitment to that project, and all the work that is now starting is designed around getting high-speed rail links moving forward.
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