Investment (Hansard, 27 June 1996)

§ 21. Mr. Eric Clarke
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase levels of investment in the United Kingdom. [33427]

§ Mrs. Angela Knight
Industry is expanding capacity as needed. In 1995 manufacturing investment was over 7½ per cent. up on a year earlier, and almost 15 per cent. higher than in 1993. Virtually all independent forecasters expect whole economy investment to accelerate in both 1996 and 1997.

§ 23. Mr. McKelvey
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the economic effects of current investment levels in the United Kingdom. [33430]

§ Mrs. Knight
Investment in recent years has been sufficient to underpin sustained economic growth, rising most in sectors where it has been needed to prevent capacity constraints.

§ 25. Dr. Lynne Jones
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of disincentives to business investment in the current tax systems. [33433]

§ Mr. Jack
The Government's on-going programme of tax reform has sought to create a climate in which businesses can thrive and invest and where individual initiative and risk taking are rewarded. Lower marginal tax rates and a stable economy are the best ways to encourage investment. The UK has the lowest main rate of corporation tax of any major industrialised country and a particularly favourable regime for small firms.