Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Hoban and Jessica Lee

Tuesday 24th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that local enterprise partnerships, such as Erewash Partnership in my constituency, play a vital role in advising SMEs on the difficulties with the availability of credit and can provide an overview for banks and the Government on the current concerns?

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Mark Hoban)]

My hon. Friend makes an important point. It is absolutely vital that businesses and banks engage together to understand the challenges businesses face. We have taken a number of measures through the seed enterprise investment scheme, relaxing the rules on venture capital trusts and enterprise investment schemes, to encourage more equity funding for business. We are working closely with the banks to ensure that we do all we can to reduce the cost of funding to SMEs.

Eurozone Crisis

Debate between Mark Hoban and Jessica Lee

Thursday 3rd November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hoban]

What we have said is that it is important that the IMF has the resources it needs to tackle the problems of the global economy. We have yet to receive a request from the IMF, but once we do so, we will respond to it appropriately.

[Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con)]

My hon. Friend has mentioned the abolition of the euro preparations unit. In the current circumstances, will he assure the House that there is no prospect of the unit being resurrected as that would be a complete waste of public money?

[Mr Hoban]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I can think of far better ways to spend the money the previous Government wasted on preparing for the euro.