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Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

I apologise to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) for missing the first part of what he said. I had to attend an engagement that had been arranged many months ago. However, I have had what he said reported to me, and I heard his position on the radio this morning—I do not think that it has changed from this morning to now. Yesterday was an opportunity for a new spring awakening of awareness in the Government regarding the crisis that the country faces. I do not think there is a single person in Britain who does not realise the severity of the economic crisis that we are now in.