Speeches by Hinds.

“Forgive me, but I do not have the history at my fingertips. The relief has been recognised over the years, and has been looked at in the past by Treasury officials. I have been a Treasury Minister, and I know that they get presented with various things that could be done, but generally speaking, when many Ministers bef…”

“The hon. Lady makes a good point about small businesses, particularly rural small businesses, and I will talk about national insurance contributions and business rates, but let me come back to how taxes on businesses are ultimately taxes on people. Some Labour Members might say that they do not mind a tax on business o…”

“National insurance relief for employing veterans comes at really quite a low cost to the Treasury, but it is effective, not just in its financial incentive but because it opens up conversations within employers. In written answers of late, the Government have been slightly equivocal about the future of the programme. C…”

“16. What steps he is taking to help support veterans into employment.”

“For reasons of timeliness, I will speak only to amendment 101, which relates to adults with Down syndrome or a learning disability, although the amendment is directly relevant to new clause 1, as the right hon. Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) spoke about. Amendment 101 would disallow medical pr…”

“My right hon. Friend is right, of course. When we in this House are told that there will be secondary legislation, guidance or a code of practice, we can only ever take that on trust, and this subject is of such moment that what is on the face of the Bill is that much more important. Given the scale of the decisions th…”

“Clearly, getting to a good and timely operation of the compensation scheme will take the Paymaster General’s personal attention, and I know that he will give it that attention because of his dedication to getting this right. Could he give an update to the House on the anticipated memorial dedicated specifically to the …”

“What awareness is there in very rural areas where there is not great broadband coverage and very poor indoor mobile phone coverage—sometimes no coverage at all—of the effect of this change, particularly in places where there are frequent and sometimes extended power cuts? When can we expect a full national awareness ca…”

“Have you had much positive response?”

“Can we come back to business rates, which we have already talked about a little this morning? Obviously, the way that the reduction in relief was done—75% came down to 40%, but the cash cap stayed the same—mathematically means that the effect has been felt more by smaller venues than the larger venues. Mark, could you …”

“More change is coming to business rates, due in April 2026, and of course there is always the possibility of further reform. As a Committee, we write reports to the Government, making recommendations, making asks. Just spell out for us clearly what you think that ask should be.”

“Have you had much positive response?”

“More change is coming to business rates, due in April 2026, and of course there is always the possibility of further reform. As a Committee, we write reports to the Government, making recommendations, making asks. Just spell out for us clearly what you think that ask should be.”

“Very briefly, a question on NICs. I think I heard you say earlier that the increase in employer national insurance contributions would prompt more venues to engage with freelancers rather than salaried or waged employees. Did I hear that correctly?”

“Is it the overall effect?”

“Just to be clear—and I am not asking you to play the role of a Treasury civil servant—a result of that change, as a venue, if I were taking on more freelancers, self-employed people, fewer wage and salaried employees, it would be less tax revenue for the Treasury.”

“Just to be clear—and I am not asking you to play the role of a Treasury civil servant—a result of that change, as a venue, if I were taking on more freelancers, self-employed people, fewer wage and salaried employees, it would be less tax revenue for the Treasury.”

“Is it the overall effect?”

“Can we come back to business rates, which we have already talked about a little this morning? Obviously, the way that the reduction in relief was done—75% came down to 40%, but the cash cap stayed the same—mathematically means that the effect has been felt more by smaller venues than the larger venues. Mark, could you …”

“Have you had much positive response?”