Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

George Freeman Excerpts
Thursday 24th October 2013

(10 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Hancock Portrait Matthew Hancock
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Yes, of course. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to my hon. Friend’s constituency. Many people raised the issue of Siemens, which would invest not only in the UK, but, through the supply chain, in many small businesses. I will look in detail at what he says.

George Freeman Portrait George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)
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May I congratulate the Government on the great news that 102,000 new businesses were created last year, bringing the total to an all-time record of 4.9 million? Does the Minister agree that many first-time entrepreneurs and start-ups find that compliance with a whole raft of Government red tape, often designed in Europe and gold-plated in Whitehall, is a genuine barrier? Will he meet me and representatives of entrepreneurial start-up companies to see what we might do to ease the burden on start-ups in particular?

Matt Hancock Portrait Matthew Hancock
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I am always delighted to meet my hon. Friend, so I would love to do that. We are always looking at how to ease the burden further. We have reduced the burden on business enormously. The one in, two out rules are in place and are working, but there is always more to do.