To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether value added tax (VAT) will have to be repaid to bingo operators following the recent VAT and duties tribunal concerning Rank Group.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether value added tax (VAT) will have to be repaid to bingo operators following the recent VAT and duties tribunal concerning Rank Group.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the European Union's principle of fiscal neutrality applies to main stage bingo operators.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the European Union's principle of fiscal neutrality applies to main stage bingo operators.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims to reclaim overpaid to value added tax HM Revenue and Customs has received from bingo operators in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims to reclaim overpaid to value added tax HM Revenue and Customs has received from bingo operators in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt domestic carbon monoxide alarms from value added taxation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt domestic carbon monoxide alarms from value added taxation.

I am most grateful to the Chancellor—

I am most grateful to the Chancellor—

Motion that this House has considered the matter of the Pre-Budget Report (Cm 7484). Emergency debate following a Standing Order No. 24 application. Motion that the Question be now put. Negatived on division (67 to 422). Original motion lapsed.

Motion that this House has considered the matter of the Pre-Budget Report (Cm 7484). Emergency debate following a Standing Order No. 24 application. Motion that the Question be now put. Negatived on division (67 to 422). Original motion lapsed.

Indeed.

Indeed.

Further to the point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood), there has not been a single reference to the fact that, only last week, Northern Rock decided to allow its principal securitisation vehicle, Granite, to go under and go into default asset recovery. As...

Further to the point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood), there has not been a single reference to the fact that, only last week, Northern Rock decided to allow its principal securitisation vehicle, Granite, to go under and go into default asset recovery. As...

My right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) and my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne) both make the point that we need a great deal more transparency, and that action is required to address the question of banks' balance sheets. Unless banks have the confidence...

My right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) and my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne) both make the point that we need a great deal more transparency, and that action is required to address the question of banks' balance sheets. Unless banks have the confidence...

I will not give way, as I have already done so three times. The cut in VAT is but a temporary stimulus at a time at which prices are already falling. The real disappointment in the pre-Budget report is that no other options on fiscal stimulus were discussed. We have...

I will not give way, as I have already done so three times. The cut in VAT is but a temporary stimulus at a time at which prices are already falling. The real disappointment in the pre-Budget report is that no other options on fiscal stimulus were discussed. We have...

I will be brief, because the winding-up speeches are due to start at six minutes past 4. Following the intervention by my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett), I have been surprised by the way in which the official Opposition have derided the notion that the...

I will be brief, because the winding-up speeches are due to start at six minutes past 4. Following the intervention by my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett), I have been surprised by the way in which the official Opposition have derided the notion that the...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

No, because I have to sit down at six minutes past. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor was quite right to contemplate all the papers that were put in front of him, and I agree with him that the conclusion that he reached will probably have the greatest impact on...

No, because I have to sit down at six minutes past. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor was quite right to contemplate all the papers that were put in front of him, and I agree with him that the conclusion that he reached will probably have the greatest impact on...

One problem is that the Government themselves do not even follow transparency. In the pre-Budget report, which is a large document, there are no proper figures on Northern Rock or RBS. I cannot get the accounts on those banks from the Vote Office—I have to get them elsewhere—because the Government...

One problem is that the Government themselves do not even follow transparency. In the pre-Budget report, which is a large document, there are no proper figures on Northern Rock or RBS. I cannot get the accounts on those banks from the Vote Office—I have to get them elsewhere—because the Government...

My hon. Friend makes a point that I missed out in my peroration. I totally agree with him. I wanted to start with the words of the Prime Minister on 17 November. When he came back triumphant from Washington, he told us that those members of the G20 who were...

My hon. Friend makes a point that I missed out in my peroration. I totally agree with him. I wanted to start with the words of the Prime Minister on 17 November. When he came back triumphant from Washington, he told us that those members of the G20 who were...

I do not know whether my right hon. Friend agrees, but I am sure that the speech that the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Nigel Griffiths) gave used to end with the line, ““And we have ended boom and bust!””

I do not know whether my right hon. Friend agrees, but I am sure that the speech that the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Nigel Griffiths) gave used to end with the line, ““And we have ended boom and bust!””

I will.

I will.