It is blindingly obvious to me that the Government need to make people’s money go further. The trick is to make the money go further and create more jobs and more opportunities. For instance, I think the Minister mentioned reducing energy Bills. I think the Government put £58 million in for fuel oil customers, but really they should be capping the price, as there is no cap on fuel oil for domestics. I have evidence of people who were getting charged £200 now being charged up to £800, so the money the Government are putting in is scratching the surface for those people, who might be employing someone else—a low-paid worker. They might not be able to do that now.
The increase in the minimum wage is welcome; it should be increased because it is the right thing to do. I have listened to trade union leaders over months, and I totally agree with that. It has taken too long to do and it is in the right direction, but you have to couple it up with how you stimulate the economy to employ those people. I think that is where the argument on the regret Amendment is. I cannot support the amendment, but the Government need to be mindful that it is a two-edged sword.