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9 Apr 2003 : Column 371—continued
6.55 pm
Mr. John Baron (Billericay): I welcome certain aspects of the Budget, certainly the efforts to combat world poverty, but it will be a disappointment to both businesses and residents in my constituency, as there is little in it that helps them. Businesses in particular will be disappointed because they have been increasingly burdened with red tape and taxes since the Government came to power in 1997. The Government have produced about 15 new regulations every working day, a significant increase on before. There is little in the Budget that offers relief from that torrent of regulation and taxes.
In the House we are apt to quote august bodies to reinforce our points but what is perhaps more important is to get the views of those at the coal face, those creating wealth in our society. To that end, I sent all businesses in my constituency a pre-Budget survey seeking their views. Despite the views of Labour Members, the overwhelming response was that businesses are wasting much more time than previously on dealing with Government regulations and that those regulations and new taxes are costing them dearly and proving to be a
real handicap in the running of their businesses. They were particularly scornful of the rise in national insurance contributions, many believing that that would adversely impact on employment prospects.Time and again, entrepreneurs are saying that the weight of Government regulation and taxes is slowing growth and in some cases forcing them to downsize. Various statistics bear that out. For example, there were 16,000 insolvencies in 2002, the highest number since 1994, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. Those may be abstract figures to many but they illustrate a growing problem: our decreasing competitiveness. No wonder Digby Jones, director general of the CBI, said last month that the UK's reputation as the place to do business has never been under greater threat.
What Governments tend to forget is that the burden of red tape always falls disproportionately on small firms, which is particularly worrying as they are the lifeblood of our economy. Small companies simply do not have the departments or personnel to deal with increased regulations. It is often the entrepreneur who deals with the paperwork, when he or she would be better employed running the business and creating wealth.
That is the central point. Budgets should be about improving the country's economic performance and wealth creation. We would then be in a better position to give help to those who need it. The relief of poverty should be one of the main objectives of politics but that can be better brought about if we foster personal freedoms within the rule of law, encourage enterprise and allow businesses, especially small businesses, to breathe and thrive. Such an approach will create a more prosperous economy and more wealth from which the Government can take their rightful share to help the truly disadvantaged in society. That will not happen, however, if the Government pile regulations and costs on to businesses because that will hinder enterprise and in turn our ability to help those most in need. The Government have continued to make life difficult for entrepreneurs and the Budget does little to put that right.
It is not only businesses that will be disappointed by the Budget but the millions of taxpayers who have seen many tax increases and very little for it. The Prime Minister said before he became Prime Minister:
- "We've no plans to increase tax at all".
My constituents, having paid much more in taxes, are now rightly asking certain questions. Commuters are asking why the punctuality and reliability of our trains have declined each year under Labour. Patients are asking why accident and emergency waits are so bad and why they are short of general practitioners. Parents are asking why teacher vacancies almost doubled under Labour, and assaults on—
Debate to be resumed tomorrow.
PETITIONS
South Oxhey Hostel
7 pm
Mr. Richard Page (South-West Hertfordshire): I wish to present a petition on behalf of the residents of South Oxhey, an estate in my constituency, recording the objections of residents to a proposal to develop a homeless young persons' hostel in Gosforth lane, South Oxhey—on a site designated metropolitan green belt—on the basis that it might be considered dangerous, as the site is close to the road, on a bend, and off-street parking would be more appropriate.
If I am to be strictly accurate I cannot say that the residents' objection is unanimous, but I am also accurate in saying that not one person has told me that he or she is in favour of the proposal. I must, I suppose, confine myself to saying that the vast majority oppose it. Over 1,000 signatures have been recorded in a very small area over just a few days, and even more are being collected as I speak. I join my constituents in urging the Government to take steps to prevent the development of the hostel.
Pharmacies
7.1 pm
Mr. Mark Francois (Rayleigh): My petition bears more than 2,500 signatures from my constituents, who are very concerned about proposals from the Office of Fair Trading that could lead to the closure of a number of local pharmacies. Signatures were collected at pharmacies throughout my constituency, and the petition was presented to me recently at the Ferry pharmacy in Hullbridge, owned by Mr. Yogesh Patel. It reads as follows:
- To the Honourable Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.
The Humble Petition of the constituents of Rayleigh in Essex
Sheweth,
That local communities are best served by local pharmacies and that the OFT's recommendations to abolish the "control of entry" regulations could seriously damage local pharmacies.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House shall urge the Government to reject proposals that could damage the operation of local pharmacies and instead to preserve them and to safeguard their continued services to local communities.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
7.3 pm
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): It gives me great pleasure to present a petition from the residents of my constituency on a subject about which I feel passionate, and to which I give full support. The petition
- Declares that we are concerned at the Office of Fair Trading report on NHS control of entry regulations and retail pharmacy services in the UK.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Health to reject proposals that would allow
- unrestricted opening of pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions, and to preserve local pharmacies and safeguard their continued services to local communities.
And the Petitioners remain etc.
7.4 pm
Dr. Andrew Murrison (Westbury): I too rise to present a petition in support of community pharmacies, and I am pleased to follow my hon. Friends the Members for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois) and for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) in so doing.
The petition, which is signed by 1,643 constituents and others, reads as follows:
- To the House of Commons.
The Petition of the users of dispensing chemists in the Westbury constituency and others
Declares that the proposals of the Office of Fair Trading to allow unrestricted opening of pharmacies would be harmful.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to reject those proposals by the Office of Fair Trading, and to preserve and safeguard the services offered by local pharmacies to their communities.
And your Petitioners remain, etc.
7.6 pm
Mr. Christopher Chope (Christchurch): I, too, have pleasure in presenting a petition of users of the Parley Cross pharmacy, which is in my constituency. This is the third such petition that I have presented from users of community pharmacies in the Christchurch constituency.
These constituents are amazed that the Government in England are still in two minds about this issue, given that we hear from a Minister in Northern Ireland that he has already decided to reject these proposals, as indeed have the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.
This petition, like the others, declares:
- To the House of Commons.
The Petition of users of the Parley Cross pharmacy in the Christchurch constituency
Declares that the proposals of the Office of Fair Trading to allow the unrestricted opening of pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions will result in a decline in the availability and quality of local health care currently provided from community pharmacies.
The Petitioners request that the House of Commons urge the Government to reject these proposals by the Office of Fair Trading, and to promote the NHS pharmacy plan to encourage and support local community pharmacies.
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