Returning to the economy, is the Prime Minister aware that the region with the most tech start-ups outside London, the fastest rate of growth in private sector businesses over the last quarter, and the highest rise in the value of exports, is the north-east of England? Does he agree that we should stick to the long-term economic plan so that we can all have the benefit of that?
The Prime Minister:
My hon. Friend makes an important point. It is notable when we look at things like small business creation, exports and investment that growth is coming from around the country, including the north-east. That is a huge contrast with 13 years of Labour when in our economy, for every 10 jobs created in the south only one was created in the north. That is the record of the last Labour Government. We need to increase entrepreneurialism and start-ups in every part of our country—that is what start-up loans and the enterprise allowance scheme are doing. There is a new spirit of enterprise in Britain, and this Government are backing it.
I cannot overstate how noisy PMQs are - Labour MPs try and shout you down, particularly Ronnie Campbell. Anyway, if you want to watch the PMQ playback you can click here and I am about 25 minutes in: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=16246&player=smooth&st=12:08:22
