Sylvia Heal

Order. Once again, the hon. Gentleman—

— from debate entitled “Economic Recovery and Welfare”

The three speeches/headings immediately before

  1. 1 earlier: Brian Binley

    No, I will not. My time is running out, and I have been rather generous.

    The Government schemes are not working and the banks are not lending. I referred to examples that I have could have used, which I will send to the Minister. Why are banks not understanding the problems of small and medium-sized businesses? It is very simple: because the guy in the middle at area and regional level is getting two messages. One is from the director for small business loans, saying, "Lend to small businesses." The other is from the guy responsible for building up assets in the bank, who is saying, "Don't risk money." There is a conflict at area and regional level. Businesses at the coal face tell me that when they talk to their local branch there is encouragement, but of course every decision is made at regional level and that is where it all stops. The bank asset guy wins out, which is why we get higher interest rates, high renegotiation fees, shorter overdraft facility periods and many more personal guarantee demands. It is all about building up bank assets, which is taking massive preference over supporting the SME sector.

    What should the Government do? First, they should get out there. Sadly, they do not have much business experience on their Front Bench. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills himself has never worked in the private sector, so perhaps that is not surprising, but the very least that they ought to do is get out there and find out what is happening. If they are doing that, they are missing the point. If they are not, as I believe, they do not understand the point. I see heads shaking on the Government Front Bench, but I come from the sector, I talk to people in the sector every day, and I tell you, you need to take the message on board—

  2. 2 earlier: Andrew Pelling

    Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

  3. 3 earlier: Brian Binley

    I will do my very best.

    Do hon. Members know that only 52 businesses have been covered by the much-vaunted trade credit insurance scheme? That is one for every 13 constituencies. I hope that you have one in yours, Madam Deputy Speaker, because the chances are that I do not have one in mine. That is a total indictment of this Government.

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