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Business of the House

I see that Opposition Members are in a light-hearted mood as they approach the recess. They are providing us all with regular entertainment. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is fully engaged in his responsibilities. Inevitably, as one of the longest-serving and most successful Chancellors that this country has ever had, he is necessarily involved in looking across the board at the impact of our very successful economic policies, and it is right that he should do so. I have indicated to the House that he continues to concentrate on the economy, and he will do so when he makes the Budget statement in due course. I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman would want to congratulate my right hon. Friend on his successful stewardship of the economy over such a long period.