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Proceeding contribution from Danny Alexander (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 29 March 2011. It occurred during Budget debate on Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation.


Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

As I said in answer to the right hon. Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill (Mr Clarke), that question is a subject of the review that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has announced and we are carrying out. We have made it very clear that we are looking at that question, and we will provide the mobility component at a level that is necessary in care homes when we have removed the overlaps and the issues quite rightly identified. The Government's third ambition for growth is to encourage investment in exports as a route to a more balanced economy. In ““The Plan for Growth””, which we published last week, we set out specific measures to help out a range of businesses. In life sciences, which the hon. Member for Macclesfield (David Rutley) mentioned, we will radically reduce the time it takes to get approval for clinical trials; in our digital and creative industries, we will improve the intellectual property regime; and in manufacturing, which the hon. Members for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds) and for Warrington South (David Mowat) addressed, we are launching Britain's first technology and innovation centre for high-value manufacturing, creating new export credits to help smaller businesses, doubling the limit on the capital allowances for short-life assets from four years to eight years and investing in infrastructure, which my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr Leech) referred to. These are some of the measures that we are taking to ensure that growth is more balanced and more sustainable, and supports employment across a wide range of sectors. On green growth, first, we have announced that we will become the first country in the world to introduce a carbon price floor for the power sector. The price will start at around £16 per tonne of carbon dioxide in 2013 and move to a target price of £30 per tonne in 2020. That will provide the incentive for billions of pounds-worth of new investment in our dated energy infrastructure.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
526 c279 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Disability living allowance Alcoholic drinks Business Corporation tax Apprentices Budgets Housing benefit Environment protection Excise duties Fiscal policy Economic situation Economic growth Local government finance Pensions Public expenditure Public sector net cash requirement Social security benefits Small businesses Regulation Taxation Technology Unemployment Budget March 2011
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk