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Beith challenges Prime Minister over government help for businesses and missed chance for Euro funding for the north east

February 16, 2009 11:00 AM

In the monthly Liaison Committee session with the Prime Minister held on 12 February 2009, Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith challenged the Prime Minister over his claim that 60,000 businesses have already received help under the Government's measures to lessen the impact of the recession.

Speaking after the meeting, Alan Beith said:

"I have heard from several businesses in the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency who have been trying to find the help and support promised by the Government but it is not at all clear where help can be obtained.

"The Prime Minister has promised to send me details of how he has arrived at a figure of 60,000 and it will be interesting to find out how much of this help has been given to businesses in the north east."

Alan Beith also asked the Prime Minister to explain why the English regions has been banned from applying for additional European funding for infrastructure projects, when Scotland and Wales had been able to make use of these funds, and given that regions with economies based on manufacturing, like the north east, were being disproportionately affected by job losses. The Prime Minister replied that the amount available was not as large as previous media reports had suggested and that the English regions were receiving Government help through measures to support the motor industry.

Alan Beith said:

"The Prime Minister could not adequately explain why Scotland and Wales were able to bid for additional European funding and yet regions like ours were barred from doing so. Labour has let us down yet again."

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