Recent Commons Speeches and Questions

10p Tax Rate Abolition
	Over 12 months ago Michael first questioned Treasury officials and Gordon Brown (then Chancellor of the Exchequer), about the government's proposals to abolish the 10p tax rate. This matter was first examined by the Treasury Select Committee in March 2007. At that time it was established that more than a million low earners would be worse off once this tax band was abolished in April 2008; but only recently has the government been willing to look at this problem in more detail.
Debate on the 2008 Budget
	"Dull, dull, dull" - Michael's criticism of the Budget. Click here (starting at column 460) to read details of Michael's speech in the Budget debate on Thursday 13th March 2008.
Banking Reform
	Michael played a key role in the Treasury Committee's report on Northern Rock and Banking Reform. Click here (see columns 29-32) for Michael's speech in the debate on Monday, 10th March.
Planning & Energy Bill
	In December Michael came top of the ballot for Private Members' bills and the second reading of his Planning & Energy Bill was approved in the House of Commons on 25th January. This bill is intended to help fight climate change by giving councils power to set energy targets for new homes. Click here to read the text of the full debate. The bill moved passed through the Committee stage on 20th February. After 5 more hours of debate the Report stage of the bill was approved on 9th May.
Financial Inclusion
	Michael joined this Westminster Hall debate on Thursday, 15th November and raised the issues of credit card debt, careless lending, the lack of numeracy in our schools, the culture of credit, the almost total collapse of the savings ratio and the effect all these have on the most vulnerable in our society today. Click here to read his ideas of how to tackle these issues and his thoughts on the future financing of our Citizens Advice bureaux and the access of funding for local volunteer agencies.

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