Neil Carmichael
Main Page: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Mr Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman has already asked a question. He cannot have forgotten the fact, because I certainly have not.
Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)
18. What steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to promote business and economic growth.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)
Local authorities have a key role in supporting local economic growth and promoting business in their areas. We have ensured that local places will receive the benefits of growth with the retention of business rates from April 2013. We will also pay £432 million to local authorities through the new homes bonus in 2012-13. We have also established 39 local enterprise partnerships, in which local authorities work with businesses to promote economic growth.
Neil Carmichael
I thank the Secretary of State for that encouraging set of policies. Does he agree that local authorities must make planning decisions connected with business development quickly, and that they should be underpinned by rigorous and timely economic analysis?