Oral Answers to Questions

Brian Binley Excerpts

Wednesday 29th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

The short answer to that is no, I don’t agree.

[Mr Brian Binley (Northampton South) (Con)]

The Prime Minister will be aware that core inflation for small businesses is at its highest level for three years. Will the Prime Minister recognise that problem, but especially tell us what more he can do to increase demand, which remains at best very sluggish?

[The Prime Minister]

I can tell my hon. Friend what we have done to help the economy. Obviously, this year a key problem for small business is the cost of fuel. We have cut fuel duty, abolished the escalator and put off the retail prices index increase to next year, making a difference of around 6p per gallon. That makes a difference. We also, with the banks, have the Merlin agreement for extra lending to small business, we have cut corporation tax for small business and we have helped on business rates for small business. This is a very small business-friendly Government.