Speeches by Tomlinson.

“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…”

“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…”

“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.”

“I agree with the right hon. Gentleman on one point: the welfare system that we inherited was failing. Our Government need to correct the mistakes that meant welfare spending was running out of control, as it was when the shadow Chancellor, the right hon. Member for Central Devon (Sir Mel Stride), was Secretary of State…”

“I will give way, but then I should make progress given that we have another group of clauses to address after this one.”

“The right hon. Gentleman is welcome to express his views on a range of policies. On the final issue that he raises—net zero and our transition to a cleaner and greener economy—independent analysis, the Government’s Climate Change Committee and the long-term fiscal risk report of the Office for Budget Responsibility hav…”

“I will give way to the right hon. Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson) and come back to the right hon. Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh).”

“I am not able to comment on the specific figures that the hon. Gentleman raised, but overall the Government are spending significantly more on the NHS in this Parliament each year. That is enabled by the changes to taxation that we announced at this and previous Budgets. One of the challenges that the national health s…”

“This Government have stuck to their manifesto commitments. We were very clear about not wanting to change the rates of income tax. I have been in discussions with Opposition Members about the wording of our manifesto; I am glad that Conservative Members have taken such interest in it. We are sticking to our commitments…”

“I will; it is good to see that the interventions are back on.”

“In opening debate on this second group of clauses, I want to reflect on why we are making changes to the tax system. I am looking forward to no interventions at all on this speech from Opposition Members—their interventions seemed to dry up in my last speech, so maybe they have now finished with them. Of course, we mak…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention and for giving me the chance to reiterate this Government’s focus on economic growth and on providing economic stability. Last year, the OBR forecast that the economy would grow by 1% but it then revised that up to 1.5%. That is a 50% increase in our growth forecast. Of cour…”

“I will happily give way to my hon. Friend.”

“I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention, which gives me a chance to repeat clearly that these changes are a 2 percentage point increase. The tax rates will increase from 20% to 22%, from 40% to 42% and from 45% to 47%. That does not add a significant—or any real—complication to the tax system. We are changing the …”

“I will happily give way.”

“Maybe later. I turn to the contribution of my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough. His speech—I had hoped it would be even longer; I am somewhat disappointed not to have heard more from him—provided a clear exposition of the benefits of the modest changes the Government are setting out in this group of clauses, whi…”