Speeches by Tomlinson.

“Colleagues will have heard what the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have said on this matter in recent days. I will not add further comments on the specifics in responding to this urgent question. When there are further comments to be made, I am sure they will be made in the usual way. At the Budget, the Government a…”

“The hon. Member mentions the change to student loan thresholds that was announced at the Budget. The Government have looked at our taxation system in the round, and at our benefits system—for example, there are the changes to Motability—to ensure that we are raising the revenue that we need in a proportionate and reaso…”

“There were some forensic questions in that not brief intervention, but of course I appreciate it, and I look forward to trying to go through—[Interruption.] I am trying to answer the questions, okay? [Interruption.] It is a bit difficult when Opposition Front Benchers continue to barrack me while I am trying to answer …”

“The Government do support the farming sector and the farming industry. We will continue to do so through the funds that we will make available via DEFRA—funds that were not fully spent under the previous Government. We have listened to farming communities and business representatives, and raised the threshold from £1 m…”

“Go on, then. I will give way, but I was trying to make progress so that other Members could speak.”

“That information will be forthcoming in due course. In conclusion, I hope that Members will see how the amendments that have been tabled are not necessary. We have set out the impact of our tax changes in numerous tax impact and information notes, which Members can read online at their leisure. This Government and I wi…”

“It is so wonderful to see so many Members on the Opposition Benches wishing to intervene. They were much less forthcoming in my previous closing remarks. I have given way to one Conservative, so I will give way to a Liberal Democrat.”

“As the Chancellor has set out—more detail will follow later this year—those whose only income is the basic or new state pension, without any increments, will not have to pay income tax over this Parliament. I am aware that Members would like to see more detail, but it would be premature for us to set out the impacts of…”

“Many Members wish to intervene. I will happily give way to the hon. Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire (Mike Wood).”

“I extend my thanks to hon. Members for their thoughtful contributions during this session in particular, which I appreciate has been a topic of discussion in public and in this place over a number of months. As I have said, the Government have been listening carefully to feedback from the farming community, family busi…”

“I am sure that Environment Ministers will continue to engage with farming unions and farming representatives. Both in the run-up to the Budget and subsequently, Treasury Ministers and those from other Departments have engaged with farmers, and we will continue to do so, to support farmers in a way that the previous Gov…”

“Given that the hon. Member called that debate, I will.”

“I was listening to the speeches made by Members on the Opposition Benches so intently that I am not in the right place in my notes to start my speech. I extend my thanks to the various Members who have spoken today. I will be very brief in winding up— [Interruption.] Yes, I know some Members in particular will enjoy th…”

“This is the normal way that inheritance tax assets are taxed. There is not just APR and BPR, and the changes coming in in April; other assets are passed on through inheritance. We are applying the same treatment here; this is the standard way that inheritance tax is set for various assets. As I was saying, these reform…”

“The Chancellor was clear about that very soon after the Budget, in her interview with Martin Lewis, which I am sure my hon. Friend saw. Those whose only income is the basic state pension will not pay tax on it during this Parliament. The changes to the personal allowance will apply to the whole of the UK. The changes t…”

“I will happily take a first intervention from the Government Benches.”

“I will make a little progress, if I may. I have already taken two interventions on this exact point. We know that there will be a broad-based effect, but as I have said, we are making other changes so that we ask as little as possible of those who will be affected by the change. We are making lots of changes to ensure …”

“I encourage the hon. Member to listen back to what I said earlier in my speech. I and this Government are not shying away from the fact that at the end of the decade, we are freezing income tax thresholds for a further three years, after the seven years—if I recall correctly—that they were frozen under the previous Gov…”

“Go on, but then I really should make progress.”

“Conservative Members keep repeating, “14 months”. I should use that as an opportunity to remind people of the 14 wasted years that their party put farmers and rural communities through; of the trade deals that they implemented, which made life worse for our farmers and farming communities; and of the hundreds of millio…”