(North West Durham)
(Con): Does my hon. Friend agree that the increase in the business
rates discount is an important measure that the Government are
taking to help small businesses not only in his constituency but
across the country?
(Yeovil) (Con): My hon.
Friend makes a very good point and he is absolutely right.
Increasing that to 33% really is a big deal for smaller businesses.
We need to reform the whole system and try to use that to devolve
the ability to invest locally raised taxes in our local economies
and have them compete with each other. That can create the dynamism
in our economy to really grow and create jobs into the future.
We need to invest in roads in the south-west. We need to follow
through on the dualling of the A303. We should be starting that
this year on the Sparkford to Ilchester section, but we need to
make sure that the Stonehenge tunnel is funded, because the value
for money of the whole project depends on that.
(Milton Keynes North)
(Con): Does my hon. Friend agree that, while the Government are
still seemingly committed to the £106 billion total cost of HS2,
consideration might be given to reallocating some, if not all, of
that funding to the Stonehenge tunnel and other local
infrastructure improvements that would benefit my constituency
and many others?
Mr Fysh: My hon. Friend makes a good point. The Government have
some interesting judgments to make. I would not want to gainsay,
but there is a strong rationale for investing throughout our
country that needs to be put before Ministers. I hope he will do
the same for his area.
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