Oral Answers to Questions

Philip Hollobone Excerpts

Thursday 24th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Willetts]

It is very important to maintain confidence in the British economy, and people can take confidence from the fact that employment is up, and that inflation is down so their living standards are protected. They can take confidence from the fact that exports are up, and they can take confidence from the fact that public borrowing is down so interest rates are down. Those are the reasons why we are confident in the British economy.

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

May I tell the Minister that the chief executive of Northamptonshire chamber of commerce has said that

“the news the economy was in recession paints an “unduly pessimistic picture”

as far as Northamptonshire is concerned? Mr Griffiths says the news is contrary to what he is hearing from his members, and his local quarterly economic survey shows a far “more positive picture”. He believes that that gives a

“more accurate indication of the underlying trends in the economy.”

[Mr Willetts]

There are great examples of business success across Britain, in both small and large companies. The coalition is committed to ensuring that we deliver growth and prosperity in the future.