Start-up Loans

Guy Opperman Excerpts
Wednesday 20th November 2013

(11 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I remind the House that there is a ten-minute rule motion to follow. I remain fully committed to moving on to the main business at or very close to 2 o’clock, so if everybody wants to get in, Members will have to help each other.

Guy Opperman Portrait Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con)
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People in Northumberland welcome the Government’s support for start-up businesses. Does the Minister agree that the key to the reform of bank lending is the development of local and regional banks? Is he surprised that in April 2012 the Labour party voted against such banks?

Matt Hancock Portrait Matthew Hancock
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That is a surprise, given that ensuring that there is more competition in banking is a key part of the answer to that problem.