North-West Economy
Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and Hazel BlearsWestminster Hall is an alternative Chamber for MPs to hold debates, named after the adjoining Westminster Hall.
Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.
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Hazel Blears
My hon. Friend makes an important point about certainty. Hon. Members will all know that uncertainty is often more damaging to businesses than knowing what is to happen, which at least means they can plan. I disagree with the Government’s decision to take an extra £40 billion out of the economy at such a time. That decision was a matter of choice. The implications that my hon. Friend has outlined are very important.
Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)
May we have a bit of balance in this? Labour Members are talking of their areas, and I wish to talk about my constituency of Weaver Vale, which is a Cheshire constituency. The previous Government cancelled Mid Cheshire college’s new campus, an investment of £30 million. The college invested a considerable amount of money in the project, including £2 million in architects’ and consultants’ fees, and all the other stuff that has to go with such jobs, but the right hon. Lady’s Government cancelled it 18 months ago.
My children go to a state comprehensive school, but it has 30-year-old portakabins where the windows do not shut and the doors do not close. That, however, is in Cheshire, not Greater Manchester, Merseyside or the other conurbations that have been invested in over the past 13 years. Some areas of the north-west are regarded as prosperous and leafy, but they received no money from the Labour Government during the past 13 years.
Hazel Blears
The hon. Gentleman needs to have a word with his predecessor, who was a tremendous champion for his area.