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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

9 Apr 2003 : Column 372

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 have had 53 tax increases under Labour. The Chancellor seems to have forgotten that spending alone does not solve problems. It is the quality of the investment rather than the amount spent that determines whether extra spending is translated into better quality services.

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 adjourned.—[Mr. Kemp.]

Debate to be resumed tomorrow.

9 Apr 2003 : Column 373

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.

To lie upon the Table.

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 lie upon the Table.

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


9 Apr 2003 : Column 374

The first signature is that of Mrs. Gillian Treharne. The total number of signatures is 1,320.

To lie upon the Table.

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 lie upon the Table.

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 lie upon the Table.


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