Speeches by Robertson.

“I agree, and the hon. Member perfectly illustrates the point that the Government’s stated aims are not backed up by their tax decisions. If the Government want better palliative care—I hope that they do—they should not be taking money away from hospices, or from charities, such as Marie Curie, that operate end-of-life …”

“I thank the Minister for coming here to address the arguments that have been made, particularly as they were about a set of decisions that were not made by her personally or by her Department. I thank her for assuring Members in this debate that she will go back and make strong representations to her colleagues. There …”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered the impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions on the charity sector. The background to this debate is the October Budget presented by the Government, and in particular the rise in national insurance contributions for employers. The rate was raised to …”

“I of course agree with the hon. Member that the Government must rethink the changes. I will go on to use examples from my own constituency, and I thank her for doing so with hers.”

“I will make a little progress and then I will be happy to give way. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations estimates that the overall cost of the money taken from charities and transferred into the Treasury will be £1.4 billion. That is money being taken from charitable sources and transferred into the Treasu…”

“I agree with both those points. Charities tell us that the change will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many. I know that because, immediately before entering Parliament, I worked for a nursing charity supporting dementia carers. The Government know the pressure created by the national insurance contributi…”

“I agree. Ultimately, the Government should exempt all charities from national insurance contribution rises. Another possibility, which would be much less beneficial, would be to target the exemption at health and social care provider charities, without which the NHS could not function, but I ask the Minister to expand …”

“I agree: of course it is ludicrous. This is charitable money—most of it is charitable donations—that is given to charities to provide valuable work, and the Treasury is taking it and putting it into the Government’s coffers. Some of these charities, such as those in my right hon. Friend’s constituency, are small charit…”

“I will make a little progress and then come back to the hon. Gentleman. Most charities are suffering as they try to raise charitable funds, yet the Government have decided to take some of those charitable funds for themselves. For charities that support older people, such as Age UK, the simultaneous impact of the withd…”

“I give way to my right hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness (Graham Stuart).”

“I agree that the Minister needs to go back and do that. That is why I secured the debate. The chief executive of Crisis said: “Increasing employers’ National Insurance contributions will have a dreadful impact on charities at a time when we are seeing unprecedented demand for our services.” Some 75% of charities are re…”

“I agree with the hon. Member. Broadly speaking, Age UK operates as small charities in individual communities. Age UK in the Isle of Wight, where my constituency is, also faces paying tens of thousands of pounds. On a national scale, that might not seem like much money, but it makes a huge difference at the local level …”

“Thank you.”

“Can we just be clear that the £26 billion is not for health and social care? It is for the NHS. Those two terms are not interchangeable. GPs will not benefit from the £22 billion for day-to-day spending, nor will social care, pharmacy or hospice. Unless your announcement pledges money to GPs, can you give any assurance…”

“I am saying: return the money to healthcare providers, instead of taking with one hand and giving with the other. Returning to hospital to community, you are giving some tantalising suggestions that there will be something coming down the road. You talk about doing it in a timely way. A timely way for you and the Depar…”

“Can we take early in the new year to be January?”

“It is not for me to do your job, Secretary of State. I am asking you to justify your decisions. Can you give assurances to health and social care providers that are not the NHS—GPs, pharmacies, social care, hospices—that you will return the money you are taking from them through the Budget via national insurance contri…”

“When?”

“You have pledged £26 billion to the NHS and just 2.5% of that—£600 million—to social care. With respect, I think it is misleading to say “£26 billion for health and social care”. The vast majority—98%—is for the NHS, which is not the same as health and social care. Can you give GPs—”

“So how is levying tax on community providers, but not on acute trusts, incentivising hospital to community and treatment to prevention? How is that incentivising moving from acute to community?”