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Finance (No. 2) Bill

Of course, the provisions on research and development could lead to diverse approaches to scientific matters. There must be room for scientific developments to respond to the very challenge that my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Rob Marris) has drawn to the attention of the House. I am therefore grateful for the assistance of my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson) in highlighting, if not a direct provision, that potential support in the Bill, for the benefit of our hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West. The Bill provides a platform of stability, and is another step towards realising our vision of a productive, competitive, enterprising Britain, which leads the world in new industries, with better technologies, first-class education, effective environmental stewardship and more highly skilled jobs with higher wages, as I have said. The Bill provides new choices for parents, investment and reform in public services, and initiatives to meet the energy and environmental challenge. It secures fairness for each child by investing in every child, and equips Britain for the global challenges ahead. Our drive in government is to improve the UK’s position as the best location for inward investment by strengthening our reputation as one of the world’s finest locations for higher education, by promoting London as the world’s leading international centre for financial and business services, and by investing in skills. Only by working together can productivity and fairness advance, and in 2006 we have an opportunity—indeed, a duty—to achieve that goal. We have an opportunity to sustain long-term investment in public services and in infrastructure. We have a duty to meet the fiscal rules, to support the needs of business and to make necessary long-term investments. The Bill prepares us to take that opportunity and to fulfil our duty by supporting enterprise, productivity, innovation and business with stability and growth. The Chancellor set out a Budget for the future, and for a strong and strengthening economy. The Bill helps to makes it a reality, and I commend it to the House.