Manufacturing (Hansard, 6 December 2001)

§ 20. Mr. Tyrie
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss the state of United Kingdom manufacturing. [18705]

§ Mr. Boateng
The Chancellor and the Governor meet regularly to discuss a wide range of issues

§ 22. Mr. Clappison
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from business men in the United Kingdom on manufacturing productivity; and if he will make a statement. [18707]

§ Mr. Boateng
The Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers often receive representations from manufacturers and all areas of business on a wide range of economic issues, and value their insights
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§ 23. Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in the tax burden on manufacturing industry since 1997. [18708]

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
The information requested is not available. This is because the difficulties involved in apportioning taxes between different sectors means that the estimates would not be robust

§ 24. Richard Burden
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to create an economic environment that encourages investment in manufacturing industry. [18709]

§ Mr. Boateng
The Government are committed to creating and maintaining the right climate for business to flourish, invest and grow. Since 1997, the Government's central economic objective has been to achieve high and stable levels of growth and employment. This means pursuing macro-economic and enterprise policies which promote business activity, and which improve the productivity of firms in the UK. Because of the choices we have made we are now enjoying the longest period of sustained low inflation since the 1960s, we have the lowest long term interest rates for nearly 40 years, and the lowest unemployment since the 1970s. The fiscal policy framework which we have put in place has restored the public finances to a healthy and sustainable position
Of course, no country can insulate itself from global economic events. But the UK is now much better placed than in the past to weather the global downturn. The Government will continue to steer a course of economic stability, with low inflation and sound public finances, coupled with microeconomic reforms to create the right conditions for investment and growth in the future