Westminster Hall adjournment debate on small businesses and trade competitiveness.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on small businesses and trade competitiveness.

I want to deal with the Opposition’s absurd report on regulation. First, the research comes from a Tory activist working from his flat—the same Tory hopeful who identified the £21 billion cuts in public expenditure that the Leader of the Opposition is now denying he supports. Those cuts included, interestingly,...

I want to deal with the Opposition’s absurd report on regulation. First, the research comes from a Tory activist working from his flat—the same Tory hopeful who identified the £21 billion cuts in public expenditure that the Leader of the Opposition is now denying he supports. Those cuts included, interestingly,...

No. I am not interested, and I do not have time. I have heard the same speech from the hon. Gentleman three times in the past five days.

No. I am not interested, and I do not have time. I have heard the same speech from the hon. Gentleman three times in the past five days.

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

I join other hon. Members in congratulating the hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley) on securing this debate, and the way in which he made his contribution in the best tradition of the House. I have only nine minutes, so I shall deal quickly with some of the issues...

I join other hon. Members in congratulating the hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley) on securing this debate, and the way in which he made his contribution in the best tradition of the House. I have only nine minutes, so I shall deal quickly with some of the issues...

I, too, commend my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley). As he often does, he spoke with passion and knowledge, giving us a comprehensive view of the issues to be addressed. He began by reminding us why small businesses matter. Economically speaking, they generate more than half...

I, too, commend my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley). As he often does, he spoke with passion and knowledge, giving us a comprehensive view of the issues to be addressed. He began by reminding us why small businesses matter. Economically speaking, they generate more than half...

That is slightly off the subject that I am currently pursuing. I think that the hon. Gentleman refers to my speech on my ten-minute Bill yesterday, when I said that there should be a full impact assessment and a pilot with pre and post-implementation assessment before the right to request...

That is slightly off the subject that I am currently pursuing. I think that the hon. Gentleman refers to my speech on my ten-minute Bill yesterday, when I said that there should be a full impact assessment and a pilot with pre and post-implementation assessment before the right to request...

During the Budget debate, I picked up the Liberal Democrat policy change about flexible working being extended to people below the age of 18. What assessment has the hon. Lady made of the likely impact of that on business?

During the Budget debate, I picked up the Liberal Democrat policy change about flexible working being extended to people below the age of 18. What assessment has the hon. Lady made of the likely impact of that on business?

I begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley) on securing the debate on this immensely important subject, particularly in the light of yesterday’s debate on the Budget. The hon. Gentleman still runs two businesses. I had several, but was unable to juggle my business and parliamentary...

I begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley) on securing the debate on this immensely important subject, particularly in the light of yesterday’s debate on the Budget. The hon. Gentleman still runs two businesses. I had several, but was unable to juggle my business and parliamentary...

This is the first time that I have served under your chairmanship, Mr. Caton, and I hope not to stray too far and incur your wrath. It is a particular privilege to speak after two such experienced people involved in business, who have mentioned with undue modesty the number of...

This is the first time that I have served under your chairmanship, Mr. Caton, and I hope not to stray too far and incur your wrath. It is a particular privilege to speak after two such experienced people involved in business, who have mentioned with undue modesty the number of...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that enlightenment. My point is that it is important that we have legislators who understand the challenges of business, particularly small business, from a practical standpoint. The right hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) talked about a local study of small...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that enlightenment. My point is that it is important that we have legislators who understand the challenges of business, particularly small business, from a practical standpoint. The right hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) talked about a local study of small...

I remain simply as chairman of the company that I founded in 1989, not as an executive officer. I hope that is clear.

I remain simply as chairman of the company that I founded in 1989, not as an executive officer. I hope that is clear.

I thank the hon. Gentleman. He always speaks words of wisdom. I said yesterday that I had once had the privilege of going to Sri Lanka with him, and I had a very enjoyable week. I recognise what a wise and credible man he is and I am delighted to...

I thank the hon. Gentleman. He always speaks words of wisdom. I said yesterday that I had once had the privilege of going to Sri Lanka with him, and I had a very enjoyable week. I recognise what a wise and credible man he is and I am delighted to...

I want to make a modest contribution to the debate. This is an important subject, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley) on raising it. I follow him this morning, as I did yesterday evening in the Budget debate, and it is a great...

I want to make a modest contribution to the debate. This is an important subject, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley) on raising it. I follow him this morning, as I did yesterday evening in the Budget debate, and it is a great...

I am sure that it will be the common currency of the debate to speak of the enormous contribution that small businesses and all who work in them make to our economy. That contribution comes in job generation, local services and innovation and creativity, and in how small businesses help...

I am sure that it will be the common currency of the debate to speak of the enormous contribution that small businesses and all who work in them make to our economy. That contribution comes in job generation, local services and innovation and creativity, and in how small businesses help...

May I say how much I agree with the hon. Gentleman’s view that education or skills training should be a bottom-up process, rather than a top-down one, but is not the problem with comparing us with Germany that there is no parity of esteem in this country between the academic...

May I say how much I agree with the hon. Gentleman’s view that education or skills training should be a bottom-up process, rather than a top-down one, but is not the problem with comparing us with Germany that there is no parity of esteem in this country between the academic...

Thank you, Mr. Caton. I accept the point that my hon. Friend was making—it is an important one. The national target for 50 per cent. of the school population to go to university is not the most helpful target—I am sure of that. I would rather not have a specific...

Thank you, Mr. Caton. I accept the point that my hon. Friend was making—it is an important one. The national target for 50 per cent. of the school population to go to university is not the most helpful target—I am sure of that. I would rather not have a specific...

It is good to have your direction, guidance and help, Mr. Caton—I shall certainly need it. I am pleased that this debate was called for this morning because Britain’s future competitiveness and the problems relating to ensuring that we are competitive over the next 40 years are vital to all...

It is good to have your direction, guidance and help, Mr. Caton—I shall certainly need it. I am pleased that this debate was called for this morning because Britain’s future competitiveness and the problems relating to ensuring that we are competitive over the next 40 years are vital to all...