Speaking during the Second Reading of the Non-Domestic Rating Bill, Harriett Baldwin intervenes on the Minister to seek reassurance that the Valuation Office Agency is ready for the changes and on track for its computer system changes.
Following the Government statement on the situation in Sudan, Harriett Baldwin expresses her sadness and concerns for the women she met in Darfur who only want peace and asks about UK funding and the funding of the Rapid Support Forces.
Speaking in a debate on the Finance (No.2) Bill, Harriett Baldwin welcomes many aspects of the Bill, but question the Government on the abolition of the Office for Tax Simplification and ask how the Treasury Committee can hold the Government accountable for continuing to simplify the tax system.
Following the Government statement on food price inflation, Harriett Baldwin highlighted the fact that inflation is a tax that harms everyone, the poorest most, and called on the Government to urge the independent Bank of England to get inflation under control.
Harriett Baldwin welcomes the extension of the 5p cut in fuel duty and the freezing of the escalator, but raises concerns that the Office for Budget Responsibility continues to use the assumption that fuel duty will rise with inflation in its fiscal forecasts which undermines their credibility in reporting the health of the nation’s finances.
Harriett Baldwin thanks all who worked hard over the weekend to limit risks to our tech and life sciences sector, and welcomes the HSBC rescue of the UK arm of the Silicon Valley Bank as the best possible outcome in these difficult circumstances.
