Peter
Dowd MP,
Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on the
Public Accounts Committee report on tackling online VAT fraud and error:

“The
Public Accounts Committee report reiterates once again that this Conservative
Government is completely out of step with the rest of the world when it comes
to tackling tax avoidance. Despite having an array of unused new powers, HMRC
continues to be outfoxed by large multinational corporations who do not charge
VAT and it is British businesses who are paying for it.

“Instead
of continuing his deluded pursuit of further cuts and more austerity, the
Chancellor should take seriously on board the recommendations in this report
and tackle VAT fraud which is costing taxpayers billions of pounds a year.

“The
next Labour government will introduce our Tax Transparency and Enforcement
Programme which will clamp down on tax avoidance and VAT fraud, so we can build
an economy which works for the many, not the few.”

Labour
will today (Wednesday 18 October) announce the party’s backing for a public
inquiry into the use of surgical mesh implants.

Labour
will also call for use of the products to be stopped in England immediately
while the inquiry is undertaken.

The
call comes as MPs prepare to discuss the impact of mesh implants in a debate
called by Emma Hardy, MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle, taking place
in Westminster Hall at 9.30am on Wednesday.

Sharon
Hodgson MP, Labour’s Shadow Public Health Minister, speaking ahead of
today’s debate, said:

“Mesh implants have left women in permanent pain, unable to walk,
and unable to work. This is an ongoing public health scandal and the Government
need to do much more to support those affected.  

“Ministers
have said NICE will publish updated guidance for these products but not until
January 2018. Mesh implants should be taken off the market now until we know
more about the threat they pose to women’s safety.

“The
Government have failed to answer big questions about the extent of this public
health scandal, including how many women have been affected and why a product
with such terrible risks was allowed into the market in the first place.

“Labour
is calling for a full inquiry to uncover the extent of the harm done by mesh
implants so we can be sure that this never happens again.”

Ahead of a vote in the House of Commons today (Wednesday 18
October), Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary has called on
Conservative MPs to support a motion to pause the roll out of the embattled
Universal Credit programme.

Labour’s call to support today’s motion follows reports that up to
25 Conservative MPs may be willing to rebel against the Government over their
flagship social security programme, as evidence continues to mount that it is
pushing people further into debt, rent arrears and even evictions. This will be
a major test of a key Government reform.

The Department for Work and Pensions’ own data shows that one in
four claimants are having to wait over six weeks to receive any funds, with
half of those in rent arrears reporting that they went into debt after claiming
Universal Credit.

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary,
calling on Conservative MPs to support the motion, said:

“The Government has so far not listened to MPs’ concerns about the
mounting issues with their flagship social security programme. We must stand
together to make our voices heard.

“I urge Conservative MPs to vote with their conscience and support
our motion to pause the roll out of Universal Credit.

“The social security system is meant to protect people from debt
and arrears, not exacerbate their situation.

“We must pause and fix Universal Credit now, before millions are
made worse off.”

Rebecca
Long-Bailey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy, commenting
on a report from the Committee on Fuel Poverty, said:

“The rise
in fuel poverty is simply not good enough – we are going backwards. As the
report points out, in 2019 there will still be thousands of fuel poor
households living in Band F and G properties. A cold, poorly insulated home
doesn’t just mean that lots of heat is wasted resulting in a high bill, it
means getting ill, it means repeated visits to the doctor, a much longer
recovery time and a greater pressure on the NHS.

“Labour
will insulate four million homes as an infrastructure priority to help those
who suffer in cold homes each winter. We would also introduce an immediate
price cap so an average dual-fuel household energy bills remains below £1,000
per year while transitioning to a fairer system for bill payers”

Ends

John
McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor, responding to the publication today of the
OECD’s Economic Survey of the UK, said:

“The
OECD has been damning of the Tories’ bungling of the Brexit negotiations, and
they are fearful of what a Tory Brexit could mean for the UK economy.

“They
also paint a damning picture of the Conservatives’ economic failure across a
range of measures, with forecast growth now expected to be amongst the lowest
in the developed world, weak productivity and huge regional inequalities all
highlighted as major problems that this government is failing to tackle.

“Like
Labour, the OECD recommends a programme of major regional infrastructure
investment to unlock the potential of our economy, backed up by increased
research spending and improved training. There is now a political consensus on
the action needed to turn our economy round after seven years of Tory failure.

“If
this weak Tory government continues to refuse to act then the next Labour
government will implement the plan needed to build an economy that works for
the many, not the few.”