Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Nick Palmer (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 9 September 2009 on behalf of the East Midlands Regional Grand Committee.

Business Assistance

Question: In Broxtowe, we are delighted with the £500,000 that we have received to support the council house building programme. We are particularly delighted that the Government have shown that they are willing to support the building industry, which tends to be the hardest hit in periods such as this. Will my hon. Friend tell his colleagues in the Department that we hope that that support will not be a one-off and that we will see continuing support over the next 12 months?

Answer: My hon. Friend is right, and I thank him for his congratulations. One of my jobs as regional Minister is to stand up for the region in the corridors of Whitehall and to be an advocate for it, so that it gets inward investment and support from a variety of Departments, including the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which can provide the investment that we need in skills, job support, housing and other infrastructure projects. The regional economic strategy is the core document, which helps us to plan the way forward. I certainly intend to listen to businesses and local organisations, as I have been doing with colleagues on the regional economic cabinet. I intend to convey their views, to win resources and then to bear down on local deliverers, such as Jobcentre Plus and the learning and skills council, to ensure that resources are made available to the communities and individuals that need them.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: EMRGC c5-6
Session: 2008-09
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons Grand Committees
Subjects: Business Credit Finance Insurance Government assistance East Midlands Motor vehicles Manufacturing industries Capital for Enterprise
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk