Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts

Monday 17th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. It is not just people in the public sector; people in the private sector, particularly in construction, which has shed 120,000 jobs since the Government came to power, are also worried about their jobs and futures and about how they will get the money to feed and house their families. There is real concern and a real lack of confidence among households and businesses.

This summer showed that things could be done differently. The Olympics showed what can be achieved with an inspiring vision—the right combination of public, private and social enterprise, with the nation united behind it. We delivered on time and on budget, and it was a perfect platform for Britain at its best. Let us hope that the Olympics provided a much-needed boost for our economy, but the lesson to learn is not that we can now rest; if we really want to seize the economic opportunities before us and build a better future, we need to repeat that effort on a much bigger scale, with a nationwide plan for jobs and growth. Let that be the lesson for today and let us get to work on laying the foundations of the economy we need to build for the next generation. Let us have a Government who follow up their rhetoric with real action.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Before I call the next speaker, I inform the House that the limit on Back-Bench speeches will be nine minutes.

--- Later in debate ---

[Geraint Davies]

Will my right hon. Friend give way?

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. May I make a quick point? The hon. Gentleman is making a lot of interventions and obviously wants to speak later in the debate. If he moves down the list of speakers, I presume he will understand why.

[Geraint Davies]

I got the point. May I ask my right hon. Friend—

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

Order. I have more than a point; I have control.