Brian Binley MP for Northampton South and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Small Business has today quizzed the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Charlie Bean and Business Secretary, Vince Cable over the issue of bank lending to small and medium sized businesses.
Figures published yesterday by the Bank of England show that in the first quarter of 2011, the top five banks loaned £16.8 billion to SME’s, £2.2 billion behind the target amount agreed under project Merlin- an agreement between the Government and the banks to increase lending to SME’s.
Brian said: “I think we need to put the emphasis on getting demand back into the economy once again. We need to be innovative and forward thinking in the way we create that demand.”
“For example if the Government were to introduce tax relief measures to encourage first time buyers to enter the market or reduce VAT on household goods, this could create some real confidence within the economy and encourage people to spend.”
“Banks will then be more willing to lend to small and medium sized businesses and those businesses will be more willing to borrow. Most importantly we must work with small and medium sized businesses and the banks to get Britain moving again.”
There is strong support in both the House of Lords and the House of Commons on the issue of finance for small businesses.
Brian said: “I was delighted to be able to host the meeting in my role as Chairman of the Small Business Group and I am especially delighted that my colleagues in both the Lords and Commons shared my enthusiasm for this subject.”
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
MP praises Governments approach to covenant
Brian Binley MP for Northampton South has welcomed the statement in the House of Commons from Defence Secretary Liam Fox MP.
The statement outlined plans to enshrine the Military Covenant in British Law for the first time. A fund of three million pounds per year to support state schools attended by significant numbers of children from armed forces families was established along with a raft of other measures designed to assist military personnel.
Brian said: “I was a sponsor to an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling for the law to recognise the importance of the Military Covenant and I am delighted the Government has decided to act.”
“Our armed forces do an enormously important job for this country and many have paid the ultimate price for the Nation. It is only right and proper that this covenant becomes part of the legal process.”
“Many people from Northampton have and are serving in the armed forces and are serving. It is only right that we provide them with the support that they need and deserve. I hope this step will help.”
The statement outlined plans to enshrine the Military Covenant in British Law for the first time. A fund of three million pounds per year to support state schools attended by significant numbers of children from armed forces families was established along with a raft of other measures designed to assist military personnel.
Brian said: “I was a sponsor to an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling for the law to recognise the importance of the Military Covenant and I am delighted the Government has decided to act.”
“Our armed forces do an enormously important job for this country and many have paid the ultimate price for the Nation. It is only right and proper that this covenant becomes part of the legal process.”
“Many people from Northampton have and are serving in the armed forces and are serving. It is only right that we provide them with the support that they need and deserve. I hope this step will help.”
Monday, 16 May 2011
MP backs Government Energy Bill
Brian Binley MP for Northampton South has praised the Governments approach to the Energy Bill in the House of Commons yesterday during a debate on its second reading.
Brian said: “I greatly welcome the general thrust of the Bill. I believe it will be a major advance, provided we get it right, but there is a lot to do to help it become a better bill. In general the House wants the Bill to succeed and considers it important and we should be able to tap into the House’s collective knowledge of an issue that is so important to the future well-being of our country.”
Brian was particularly impressed with the Bills ability to offer new strong economic opportunities, providing new jobs, improved energy security and reduced fuel poverty.
Brian said: “Improvements in energy efficiency are a vital part of the wider picture of our energy policy, for a number of reasons. They are central to the success of our economy, to the well being of our children and grandchildren and are of extremely important to the jobs market.”
“However, they are extremely important to consumers, particularly those who are less privileged than many other people in the country.”
Brian went on to warn the Government that energy can only be saved if there is energy in the first place.
Brian said: “The whole process of generation has become even more delicate and important as a result of happenings on the other side of the world. The future of energy supply is now a very pertinent matter to which we need to devote serious attention.”
“The green deal programme is one of the most startling and innovative policies I have ever seen during my time in the House. As I have said there are ways we can improve it, but it is a gem of an idea on which we can build.”
“The green deal has a focus on the sectors which will provide the growth that we need to ensure the success of the whole budget strategy.”
Brian said: “I greatly welcome the general thrust of the Bill. I believe it will be a major advance, provided we get it right, but there is a lot to do to help it become a better bill. In general the House wants the Bill to succeed and considers it important and we should be able to tap into the House’s collective knowledge of an issue that is so important to the future well-being of our country.”
Brian was particularly impressed with the Bills ability to offer new strong economic opportunities, providing new jobs, improved energy security and reduced fuel poverty.
Brian said: “Improvements in energy efficiency are a vital part of the wider picture of our energy policy, for a number of reasons. They are central to the success of our economy, to the well being of our children and grandchildren and are of extremely important to the jobs market.”
“However, they are extremely important to consumers, particularly those who are less privileged than many other people in the country.”
Brian went on to warn the Government that energy can only be saved if there is energy in the first place.
Brian said: “The whole process of generation has become even more delicate and important as a result of happenings on the other side of the world. The future of energy supply is now a very pertinent matter to which we need to devote serious attention.”
“The green deal programme is one of the most startling and innovative policies I have ever seen during my time in the House. As I have said there are ways we can improve it, but it is a gem of an idea on which we can build.”
“The green deal has a focus on the sectors which will provide the growth that we need to ensure the success of the whole budget strategy.”
MP Seeking new opportunities
Brian Binley MP for Northampton South is seeking the expertise of vision correction specialist Ultralase to help transform the future of local eye care.
Brian recently met with Tony Veverka, Chief Executive of Ultralase, to discuss the NHS reforms and opportunities that may arise for a more efficient service for patients in the area going forward.
Brian said: “I was delighted to meet with the Chief Executive of Ultralase to find out a little bit more about the services they provide to their customers.”
“I am always impressed with the how far technological development has assisted the health care industry with more preventative and corrective treatments becoming more readily available all the time.”
Tony Veverka said: “This year we celebrate our 20th anniversary and over the years we’ve built a wealth of experience and expertise in eye health. It’s fantastic to be working with local MPs, such as Brian, to share our methods of best practice and hopefully improve the patient experience as a result.”
The meeting, held at Ultralase’s Northampton clinic in Cliftonville is the first in a series of consultations for Ultralase. Over the next few months they will be meeting with MP’s representing its clinics around the UK; all in the hope of creating a more streamlined patient experience in the future.
Brian recently met with Tony Veverka, Chief Executive of Ultralase, to discuss the NHS reforms and opportunities that may arise for a more efficient service for patients in the area going forward.
Brian said: “I was delighted to meet with the Chief Executive of Ultralase to find out a little bit more about the services they provide to their customers.”
“I am always impressed with the how far technological development has assisted the health care industry with more preventative and corrective treatments becoming more readily available all the time.”
Tony Veverka said: “This year we celebrate our 20th anniversary and over the years we’ve built a wealth of experience and expertise in eye health. It’s fantastic to be working with local MPs, such as Brian, to share our methods of best practice and hopefully improve the patient experience as a result.”
The meeting, held at Ultralase’s Northampton clinic in Cliftonville is the first in a series of consultations for Ultralase. Over the next few months they will be meeting with MP’s representing its clinics around the UK; all in the hope of creating a more streamlined patient experience in the future.
MP calls for law to protect armed forces
Brian Binley MP for Northampton South has sponsored an Early Day Motion calling for the Military Covenant to be made law in order to better protect our armed forces welfare.
The Covenant states: Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices- including the ultimate sacrifice- in the service of the nation. In return British soldiers should expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals and that they and their families will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service.
Brian said: “The Military Covenant in its current state is only referred to as an act of guidance and is not enshrined in law in anyway. I was disappointed to hear when the Armed Forces Bill was announced in the House of Commons that we had not done more for our forces in that respect.”
“We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our military personnel who over the last decade in particular have displayed enormous courage and bravery in military campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan and most recently in Libya.”
“A military Covenant enshrined in law as David Cameron intimated he would do in June last year would go some way to honouring the memory of those servicemen who have lost their lives or been injured whilst serving their nation.”
The Covenant states: Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices- including the ultimate sacrifice- in the service of the nation. In return British soldiers should expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals and that they and their families will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service.
Brian said: “The Military Covenant in its current state is only referred to as an act of guidance and is not enshrined in law in anyway. I was disappointed to hear when the Armed Forces Bill was announced in the House of Commons that we had not done more for our forces in that respect.”
“We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our military personnel who over the last decade in particular have displayed enormous courage and bravery in military campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan and most recently in Libya.”
“A military Covenant enshrined in law as David Cameron intimated he would do in June last year would go some way to honouring the memory of those servicemen who have lost their lives or been injured whilst serving their nation.”
Binley’s Post campaign success
Brian Binley MP for Northampton South is delighted that his campaign to keep the Universal Service Obligation as part of the Postal Service Bill for the next ten years has been a success.
The Minister for Postal Services, Ed Davey, has today announced that the Universal Service Obligation will be secured for the next ten years as part of a raft of amendments to the Postal Services Bill.
Brian sponsored an amendment during the Committee Stage of the Bill in the House of Commons which stated that the Universal Service Obligation should remain for ten years rather than 18 months as the Government had planned.
Following sizeable support for the measure in the House of Commons vote, Brian continued his campaign when the Bill hit the House of Lords tabling an Earl Day Motion in the House of Commons which 162 MP’s supported including 47 MP’s coalition Members.
Brian said: “I am delighted that this campaign has been a success. The Universal Service Obligation is vital to many rural Post Offices survival and I am sure they will be relieved to hear that the USO is secure for a further ten years.”
“I have fought hard against Post Office closures in Northampton under the previous Labour Government and I was prepared to fight my own Government on the issue again.”
“To many people the daily visit from the postman and the liveried red vans that run around the streets along with local Post Offices are the very fabric of many of our communities up and down the Country.”
“It would have been sad to see that fabric torn and frayed by the decision not to have a USO for a further ten years.”
The Minister for Postal Services, Ed Davey, has today announced that the Universal Service Obligation will be secured for the next ten years as part of a raft of amendments to the Postal Services Bill.
Brian sponsored an amendment during the Committee Stage of the Bill in the House of Commons which stated that the Universal Service Obligation should remain for ten years rather than 18 months as the Government had planned.
Following sizeable support for the measure in the House of Commons vote, Brian continued his campaign when the Bill hit the House of Lords tabling an Earl Day Motion in the House of Commons which 162 MP’s supported including 47 MP’s coalition Members.
Brian said: “I am delighted that this campaign has been a success. The Universal Service Obligation is vital to many rural Post Offices survival and I am sure they will be relieved to hear that the USO is secure for a further ten years.”
“I have fought hard against Post Office closures in Northampton under the previous Labour Government and I was prepared to fight my own Government on the issue again.”
“To many people the daily visit from the postman and the liveried red vans that run around the streets along with local Post Offices are the very fabric of many of our communities up and down the Country.”
“It would have been sad to see that fabric torn and frayed by the decision not to have a USO for a further ten years.”
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