31
[Mr. Hurd]
Hong Kong
6 DECEMBER 1993
32
Orders of the Day
become a centre for what they would regard as subversion, of advocating violent change in China. They feel a certain suspicion of the British Government and of the Governor.
It must be our job and the job of the people in Hong Kong over the next three and a half years to get those suspicions put on one side and pushed into the history books, because the present interests of Britain, Hong Kong and China in all those matters coincide to a remarkable
extent.
WAYS AND MEANS
Order read for resuming adjourned debate on Question [30 November].
AMENDMENT OF THE LAW
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That it is expedient to amend the law with respect to the National Debt and the public revenue and to make further provision in connection with finance; but this Resolution does not extend to the making of any amendment with respect to value added tax so as to provide
(a) for zero-rating or exempting any supply, acquisition or
importation:
(b) for refunding any amount of tax;
(c) for varying the rate of that tax otherwise than in relation
to all supplies, acquisitions and importations; or
(d) for relief other than relief applying to goods of whatever description or services of whatever description.—[Mr. Kenneth Clarke.]
Question again proposed.
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation
Madam Speaker: I must inform the House that I have seen fit to limit speeches between the hours of 7 and 9 pm to 10 minutes.
4.17 pm
The Secretary of State for Education (Mr. John Patten): The whole House will agree that my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor presented a skilful and imaginative Budget last week. He tackled the deficit decisively and set public borrowing on a downward path with the robust and penetrating help of my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary. He cut no less than £10 billion from previous spending plans, with tough measures to reduce the cost of government and bring spending on social security under control. His tax increases are carefully targeted to protect incentives, as the House would want, and help the supply side of the economy. The Budget has new measures to help businesses and jobs.
The Budget creates the right climate for business and for investors. It will foster the economic recovery that is clearly gathering momentum. [Laughter.] Already unemployment is falling and output is expanding—a laughing matter to the Labour Front Bench. Industry is more competitive and exports are at record levels. Our inflation and interest rates are among the lowest in Europe. This year and next year, we should have faster growth than any of our major partners on the continent.
As part of that picture, education will be critical in the next three years. That is why I am all the more sorry that the Labour party did not think the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) sufficiently weighty to field for a debate such as this. Quite properly, when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment spoke in a similar debate last Friday, the shadow spokesman on employment also spoke. It is unusual in House of Commons practice for an Opposition spokesman not to take part in a debate, but not surprising considering the shambles to which the hon. Member for Dewsbury has reduced Labour's education policy after only 18 months in the job.
26 CD65/7 Job 2-8
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.