North-West Economy Debate

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Lord Evans of Rainow

Main Page: Lord Evans of Rainow (Conservative - Life peer)

North-West Economy

Lord Evans of Rainow Excerpts
Tuesday 20th July 2010

(13 years, 10 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Hazel Blears Portrait Hazel Blears
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My hon. Friend makes an important point about certainty. Hon. Members will all know that uncertainty is often more damaging to businesses than knowing what is to happen, which at least means they can plan. I disagree with the Government’s decision to take an extra £40 billion out of the economy at such a time. That decision was a matter of choice. The implications that my hon. Friend has outlined are very important.

Lord Evans of Rainow Portrait Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)
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May we have a bit of balance in this? Labour Members are talking of their areas, and I wish to talk about my constituency of Weaver Vale, which is a Cheshire constituency. The previous Government cancelled Mid Cheshire college’s new campus, an investment of £30 million. The college invested a considerable amount of money in the project, including £2 million in architects’ and consultants’ fees, and all the other stuff that has to go with such jobs, but the right hon. Lady’s Government cancelled it 18 months ago.

My children go to a state comprehensive school, but it has 30-year-old portakabins where the windows do not shut and the doors do not close. That, however, is in Cheshire, not Greater Manchester, Merseyside or the other conurbations that have been invested in over the past 13 years. Some areas of the north-west are regarded as prosperous and leafy, but they received no money from the Labour Government during the past 13 years.

Hazel Blears Portrait Hazel Blears
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The hon. Gentleman needs to have a word with his predecessor, who was a tremendous champion for his area.

Lord Evans of Rainow Portrait Graham Evans
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My predecessor did not stop that cancellation.