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AMENDMENT OF THE LAW

I think that I read the same paper. That is absolutely true, and the Government have taken a number of measures. I am merely saying that they are insufficient. Everything is helpful, and I am a fan of the manufacturing advisory services in particular. Hon. Members may be familiar with their work in different regions, especially in assisting small firms—in efficiency and lean manufacturing, for instance—which has been extremely helpful and well supported by the regional development agencies. In that sense, I readily concede that the Government whom I support have been taking measures to help small companies. I repeat that the message that I want to get across to those on the Treasury Bench today is that we are not yet doing enough; more needs to be done. We can see from the industry’s productivity gains that it is responding magnificently, but its general output is still falling behind that of the service sector. That is not a sustainable policy for the long term. We must move back to a more vigorous, growing manufacturing industry. There is not a country in the world that is successful in the way in which we want to be successful that does not have a strong, well-performing manufacturing sector.