Move to promote greater equality on International Women’s Day

the House of Commons yesterday in which he said the UK ‘cannot rest on our past achievements’ last year to 2.6 per cent this year. And for those who care about such things, it means we are forecast to meet our 3 per cent EU Stability and Growth pact target this year for the first time in more than a decade.

“But I won’t hold my breath, Mr Deputy Speaker, for my congratulatory letter from Jean-claude Juncker.” n On the “last” Labour government:

Mr Hammond: “My ambition is for the UK to be the best place in the world to start and grow a business.

“Under the last Labour government corporation tax was 28 per cent – by the way they don’t call it the last Labour government for nothing.” n On being upstaged by Theresa May on International Women’s Day:

Mr Hammond: “I am delighted to use the occasion of International Women’s Day to announce three additional measures.

“Well, not quite announce them, Mr Deputy Speaker, because my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister’s already announced two of them.”

Mrs May: “It’s International Women’s Day!” n On Jeremy Corbyn disappearing down a black hole

Mr Hammond: “A wellfunctioning market economy is the best way to deliver prosperity and security to working families and the litany of failed attempts at state control of industry by Labour leave no-one in any doubt about that.

“Except, apparently, the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite, who is now so far down a black hole that even Stephen Hawking has disowned him.” n On the Labour Party leadership:

“£270 million to keep the UK at the forefront of disruptive technologies like biotech, robotic systems and driverless vehicles -– a technology which I believe the party opposite knows something about.” Women will get support to return to work after a career break as part of a raft of measures in the budget targeting gender equality on International Women’s Day.

Philiphammondsaidhewas “delighted” to set aside £20 million to support the campaign to end violence against women and girls, taking the total commitment to £100m by the 2020 general election.

A further £5m was committed to projects to mark the centenary of women getting the vote in the 1918 Representation of the People Act, which Mr Hammond described as a “decisive step in the political emancipation of women in this country”. And the Chancellor announced an extra £5m towards promoting “returnships” to help people back into public and private sector work after a career break.

Mr Hammond also stressed flagship childcare reforms due to take effect this year and 0 Theresa May held a reception at Downing Street £12m raised for women’s charities by the scrapping of the socalled “tampon tax”.

“I’m pleased to report on International Women’s Day that there is now a higher proportion of women in the workforce than ever before,” the Chancellor told MPS.

“And I’m even more pleased to report that since February 23rd” – the date of the Copeland by-election – “there’s a higher proportion of women in work in the parliamentary Conservative party.”

Theresa May held a reception at Downing Street for prominent women in business, sport, the arts and charities, including Scottish Olympian Dame Katherine Grainger.

“I’m proud of the progress that we have made so far we have more women on the boards of our biggest companies, more women in parliament, the lowest gender pay gap on record and we have more women in work than ever before,” the Prime Minister said.

However, the government was accused of a “dereliction of duty” by the SNP for failing to respond to demands from women protesting outside Westminster against pensions inequality.

Campaigners known as the WASPI women gathered in Parliament Square to protest changes to the retirement age which they say are unfair to female workers.

Ian Blackford MP said: “The Chancellor had an opportunity today to right a wrong and deliver measures that would give these women their pensions that they have rightfully earned, yet are unfairly denied.”