§ 25. Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement of the effect of recent fiscal and interest rate measures on the profitability of small firms.
§ Mr. NelsonMy right hon. Friend the former Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a number of measures in his March Budget of particular assistance to small firms and we now have the lowest interest rates for over 15 years. Small firms are therefore well placed to show renewed growth and to take advantage of sustained economic recovery, based on low inflation, sound public finances and improved competitiveness.