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Chancellor George Osborne MP faces Lords Economic Affairs Committee questions

8 September 2015

The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee questioned the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon George Osborne MP, in an annual evidence session.

Witness

The session took place on Tuesday 8 September in Committee Room 1, Palace of Westminster.

At 3.35pm:

  • Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer

Topics

The Committee questioned the Chancellor on a number of topical issues, including the economic case for the UK staying in the European Union; whether the Hinkley Point power station is a good deal for UK taxpayers; whether the extension of Right to Buy to housing associations will deplete social housing stock; and the much-debated issue of executive pay.

Other questions the Committee put to Mr Osborne were:

  • What effect will the Summer Budget have on income inequality in the UK?
  • What effect will the National Living Wage have on productivity and employment, and will it compensate for reductions to welfare?
  • Will the Scottish Government be given greater borrowing powers and, if so, what restrictions would he seek to enforce?
  • Given pauses to rail improvements in the north, is it still true that HS2 is not taking money away from the existing network?
  • Given recent scandals, what concrete evidence is there of a change in banking culture?
  • Is there a case for replacing the UK benefits system with a basic income?

Further information

Image: PA