I attended a Summit in Berlin on 22 February hosted by Chancellor Merkel for the Leaders and Finance Ministers of the EU countries who will attend the London Summit in April, the ECB President, the Eurogroup Chair and the Governor of the Bank of England. I was accompanied by my...

I attended a Summit in Berlin on 22 February hosted by Chancellor Merkel for the Leaders and Finance Ministers of the EU countries who will attend the London Summit in April, the ECB President, the Eurogroup Chair and the Governor of the Bank of England. I was accompanied by my...

My right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Alistair Darling) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The ECOFIN Council met informally on Thursday 18 December 2008 in Paris. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury represented the UK. Ministers discussed non-co-operative financial jurisdictions, the IMF's resources, and the setting...

My right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Alistair Darling) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The ECOFIN Council met informally on Thursday 18 December 2008 in Paris. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury represented the UK. Ministers discussed non-co-operative financial jurisdictions, the IMF's resources, and the setting...

ECOFIN met informally on Thursday 18 December 2008 in Paris. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury represented the UK. Ministers discussed non-co-operative financial jurisdictions, the IMF's resources, and the setting up of an early warning system for financial risks at an international level. They also discussed taking forwards work at...

ECOFIN met informally on Thursday 18 December 2008 in Paris. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury represented the UK. Ministers discussed non-co-operative financial jurisdictions, the IMF's resources, and the setting up of an early warning system for financial risks at an international level. They also discussed taking forwards work at...

Statement on the European Council meeting held in Brussels on 15 and 16 October.

Statement on the European Council meeting held in Brussels on 15 and 16 October.

Lords statement on the European Council held in Brussels on 15 and 16 October 2008.

Lords statement on the European Council held in Brussels on 15 and 16 October 2008.

The Prime Minister particularly spoke about insisting on openness and disclosure. He wants off-balance-sheet vehicles brought on to balance sheets. Will he therefore tell the House—he knows the answer—how much, to the nearest billion or so, we as a country and the Government owe in off-balance-sheet debt?

The Prime Minister particularly spoke about insisting on openness and disclosure. He wants off-balance-sheet vehicles brought on to balance sheets. Will he therefore tell the House—he knows the answer—how much, to the nearest billion or so, we as a country and the Government owe in off-balance-sheet debt?

If the hon. Gentleman is referring to private finance partnerships, those figures are published regularly by the Treasury and he has access to them. We comply with international standards, and the Conservatives will not get very far with that argument because they followed the exact same practice when they were...

If the hon. Gentleman is referring to private finance partnerships, those figures are published regularly by the Treasury and he has access to them. We comply with international standards, and the Conservatives will not get very far with that argument because they followed the exact same practice when they were...

Discussions on those matters are continuing with the Icelandic authorities, as the Chancellor said. We believe that they have a responsibility in this matter, and we will continue to pursue that with them.

Discussions on those matters are continuing with the Icelandic authorities, as the Chancellor said. We believe that they have a responsibility in this matter, and we will continue to pursue that with them.

What are the Government doing to protect the interests of the many British people who hold deposits in Icelandic banks through branches in British dependent territories such as Guernsey and the Isle of Man?

What are the Government doing to protect the interests of the many British people who hold deposits in Icelandic banks through branches in British dependent territories such as Guernsey and the Isle of Man?

This is part of the decisions that we made on nuclear energy. I think that the hon. Gentleman can see from announcements that have been made by one large company in the past few weeks that companies are prepared to invest in nuclear power in this country. That will continue...

This is part of the decisions that we made on nuclear energy. I think that the hon. Gentleman can see from announcements that have been made by one large company in the past few weeks that companies are prepared to invest in nuclear power in this country. That will continue...

On nuclear power, is the Prime Minister convinced that the City will be willing to meet the costs of the contingent liabilities of decommissioning nuclear power stations in due course, or will the state have to act as guarantor for those decommissioning costs?

On nuclear power, is the Prime Minister convinced that the City will be willing to meet the costs of the contingent liabilities of decommissioning nuclear power stations in due course, or will the state have to act as guarantor for those decommissioning costs?

I hope that, on reflection, the hon. Gentleman, who is usually a moderate man, will realise the exaggerations that he has made. We have had the longest period of economic growth as a single Government, we have created 3 million jobs over the past 10 years and the reason why...

I hope that, on reflection, the hon. Gentleman, who is usually a moderate man, will realise the exaggerations that he has made. We have had the longest period of economic growth as a single Government, we have created 3 million jobs over the past 10 years and the reason why...

In the presidency conclusions, the European Council emphasises that"““the real performance of company executives should be reflected in their remuneration, including their severance pay…which should be in line with their actual contribution to the success of the company.””" As finance director and chief executive of the United Kingdom over the...

In the presidency conclusions, the European Council emphasises that"““the real performance of company executives should be reflected in their remuneration, including their severance pay…which should be in line with their actual contribution to the success of the company.””" As finance director and chief executive of the United Kingdom over the...

This country has had 10 years of economic growth under a Labour Government. I cannot recall that being achieved by the Conservatives.

This country has had 10 years of economic growth under a Labour Government. I cannot recall that being achieved by the Conservatives.

Our figures are based on international accounting standards and on the independent Office for National Statistics. We follow the practices adopted by previous Governments. I remind the hon. Gentleman that debt was at 44 per cent. in 1997—far higher than in the past 10 years.

Our figures are based on international accounting standards and on the independent Office for National Statistics. We follow the practices adopted by previous Governments. I remind the hon. Gentleman that debt was at 44 per cent. in 1997—far higher than in the past 10 years.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the leadership role that he plays on the Treasury Committee, and for his knowledge of these matters. He is absolutely right: in these difficult times, when interest rates are relatively low in comparison with rates during previous downturns, it is right to...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the leadership role that he plays on the Treasury Committee, and for his knowledge of these matters. He is absolutely right: in these difficult times, when interest rates are relatively low in comparison with rates during previous downturns, it is right to...

In a period of economic difficulty, is it not better that people come together rather than split apart? Is it not better to use the fact that we work well with our neighbours in Europe to develop common policies to deal with this financial crisis? I know where the hon....

In a period of economic difficulty, is it not better that people come together rather than split apart? Is it not better to use the fact that we work well with our neighbours in Europe to develop common policies to deal with this financial crisis? I know where the hon....

My Lords, I am grateful to both noble Lords for their support on the wider Statement and their welcome for the fact that such Statements are repeated in this House. As the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, said, there is here a great deal of interest in these issues and concern...

My Lords, I am grateful to both noble Lords for their support on the wider Statement and their welcome for the fact that such Statements are repeated in this House. As the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, said, there is here a great deal of interest in these issues and concern...

On Monday, a senior official from the Department for Communities and Local Government told the Select Committee that the Prime Minister had been involved with a difficult decision to remove £600 million from the East of England Development Agency grants for small businesses. Is that the best way to protect...

On Monday, a senior official from the Department for Communities and Local Government told the Select Committee that the Prime Minister had been involved with a difficult decision to remove £600 million from the East of England Development Agency grants for small businesses. Is that the best way to protect...

The hon. Lady is referring to the development agencies as a whole and what we did to help housing. That is what we announced in September.

The hon. Lady is referring to the development agencies as a whole and what we did to help housing. That is what we announced in September.