To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the average percentage change in the productivity of (a) the creative industries and (b) the tourism industry in each year since 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the average percentage change in the productivity of (a) the creative industries and (b) the tourism industry in each year since 1998.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the average percentage change in the productivity of (a) the financial services sector and (b) the economy as a whole in each year since 1998.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the average percentage change in the productivity of (a) the financial services sector and (b) the economy as a whole in each year since 1998.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what processes he has in place to measure staff productivity at HM Revenue and Customs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what processes he has in place to measure staff productivity at HM Revenue and Customs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he plans to take to improve UK productivity over the next 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he plans to take to improve UK productivity over the next 12 months.

My honourable friend the Prime Minister has made the following Statement. I am today outlining machinery of the government changes affecting a number of existing departments of state. Full details will be provided shortly in a paper to be laid in the Library of the House. These changes will sharpen...

My honourable friend the Prime Minister has made the following Statement. I am today outlining machinery of the government changes affecting a number of existing departments of state. Full details will be provided shortly in a paper to be laid in the Library of the House. These changes will sharpen...

I am today outlining Machinery of Government changes affecting a number of existing Departments of State. Full details will be provided shortly in a paper to be laid in the Library of the House. These changes will sharpen the focus of central Government on the new and very different challenges...

I am today outlining Machinery of Government changes affecting a number of existing Departments of State. Full details will be provided shortly in a paper to be laid in the Library of the House. These changes will sharpen the focus of central Government on the new and very different challenges...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to help improve the productivity of farming.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to help improve the productivity of farming.

I agree with my hon. Friend that the Chancellor only goes green when he sees his poll ratings. Does he agree, however, that our right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) has set the agenda on the environment, and that the Chancellor failed to make a single substantive...

I agree with my hon. Friend that the Chancellor only goes green when he sees his poll ratings. Does he agree, however, that our right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) has set the agenda on the environment, and that the Chancellor failed to make a single substantive...

Surely there must be some good news somewhere. It cannot really be this grim, can it?

Surely there must be some good news somewhere. It cannot really be this grim, can it?

I recognise that my speech is dirge-like in flavour. In 2006, the EAC again stated:"““We are very disappointed by this Pre-Budget Report.””" I would love to say that the Labour Members on the Committee had some positive news, but I am afraid that they did not. They said:"““The picture is...

I recognise that my speech is dirge-like in flavour. In 2006, the EAC again stated:"““We are very disappointed by this Pre-Budget Report.””" I would love to say that the Labour Members on the Committee had some positive news, but I am afraid that they did not. They said:"““The picture is...

It is a great privilege to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley), who has given a tour de force on behalf of small businesses that this House needed to hear, because of the impact on small business of this Budget. Too few Labour Members have...

It is a great privilege to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley), who has given a tour de force on behalf of small businesses that this House needed to hear, because of the impact on small business of this Budget. Too few Labour Members have...

The truth is that I did not read the bit to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but after this debate, I will go and look at it. What I do know is that the Institute of Directors complained about the impact of the increase in corporation tax on small businesses....

The truth is that I did not read the bit to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but after this debate, I will go and look at it. What I do know is that the Institute of Directors complained about the impact of the increase in corporation tax on small businesses....

The hon. Gentleman did not mention the Institute of Directors or its director, Miles Templeman. Can he tell us about his comments on the Budget?

The hon. Gentleman did not mention the Institute of Directors or its director, Miles Templeman. Can he tell us about his comments on the Budget?

I accept that and thank you for your guidance, Mr. Deputy Speaker. There we have it. As I said, it is not about growing business, but closing a loophole. Surely it is not beyond the wit of the very cleverest Chancellor of the Exchequer that the Labour party says it...

I accept that and thank you for your guidance, Mr. Deputy Speaker. There we have it. As I said, it is not about growing business, but closing a loophole. Surely it is not beyond the wit of the very cleverest Chancellor of the Exchequer that the Labour party says it...

Of course we all need a stable economy—every business and every family in the land needs that. However, I equally recognise that the first five years of the long period of stable economy were created by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke), who has...

Of course we all need a stable economy—every business and every family in the land needs that. However, I equally recognise that the first five years of the long period of stable economy were created by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke), who has...

How do I answer that? Does the hon. Gentleman agree that all the surveys of small businesses show that the most important factor for them is a stable and growing economy? Has not the Chancellor delivered that? Should not the hon. Gentleman therefore say what a good job the Government...

How do I answer that? Does the hon. Gentleman agree that all the surveys of small businesses show that the most important factor for them is a stable and growing economy? Has not the Chancellor delivered that? Should not the hon. Gentleman therefore say what a good job the Government...

How can I refuse the hon. Gentleman who accompanied me to Sri Lanka?

How can I refuse the hon. Gentleman who accompanied me to Sri Lanka?

My hon. Friend talks about smoke, and he said that the Chancellor is scrapping the 10p rate of income tax. In fact, he is doing no such thing: instead, he is doubling the 10p rate to 20p.

My hon. Friend talks about smoke, and he said that the Chancellor is scrapping the 10p rate of income tax. In fact, he is doing no such thing: instead, he is doubling the 10p rate to 20p.