Economy: Balance of Payments and Industrial Productivity Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Economy: Balance of Payments and Industrial Productivity

Lord Spicer Excerpts
Thursday 10th December 2015

(9 years ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord O'Neill of Gatley Portrait Lord O’Neill of Gatley
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My Lords, again there are many questions about the arcane world of economic statistics with which I am very familiar. I suggest that there is no clear correlation between the level of manufacturing and the overall level of productivity. I spent considerable time yesterday discussing this with my many friends in the north of England.

Lord Spicer Portrait Lord Spicer (Con)
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My Lords, there are signs that we may be on the brink of a recession. Is this really the right time to think of putting up interest rates?

Lord O'Neill of Gatley Portrait Lord O’Neill of Gatley
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My Lords, luckily the decision on what happens to interest rates has absolutely nothing to do with me and is the responsibility of the independent Bank of England.