Member

Further figures were given in the other place by my right honourable friend Claire Coutinho, who speaks as shadow Secretary of State on these issues. The cost to the wider British economy is an extra £5 billion a year. If that is the case—I do not think these figures were disputed—how can the Minister and the Government argue that this is playing to their growth agenda? I would argue that it is taking money out of the economy and stifling growth in this area.