Emerging Economies

Debate between Chris Bryant and Lord Bruce of Bennachie

Monday 14th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Gordon Birtwistle (Burnley) (LD)]

rose—

[Malcolm Bruce]

rose—

[Chris Bryant]

I shall give way first to the newer Member, then to the old lag.

--- Later in debate ---

[Chris Bryant]

I am a bit distressed that my hon. Friend has just welcomed me to the Opposition Benches, but there it is. We came into the House at roughly the same time, and I will take that matter up with him later. He also made a good point about a growth strategy, which I will come to in a moment. First, I will give way to the slightly older Member.

[Malcolm Bruce]

Just refer to me as the old lag. On a detailed point, the Crombie overcoat company in my constituency went out of business—or at least contracted its business—because it had a major contract with the KGB, not because it had been successful in the free market. The point that the hon. Gentleman is making about a growth strategy is all very well—yes, we should have one—but can he divorce that from spending even more Government money and getting ourselves further into debt? Can he explain how we can have a growth strategy that does not involve spending more taxpayers’ money that we cannot afford?

[Chris Bryant]

I was about to do precisely that, so I am grateful to the old lag—