Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 6:01 pm on 23 March 2004.
From his long history of trade union activities, my hon. Friend will be well aware of the manufacturing sector, and he, like me, represents a west midlands constituency—a key manufacturing area. Certain measures in this year's Budget, as in last year's, assist manufacturing, although there is more to do. Will my hon. Friend say more about manufacturing, particularly in the west midlands, and ways in which the Budget will assist venture capital, research and development, and so on?