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Discussion Brief Number 2/2012
Increasing productivity and supporting growth
General
Name of CPF Group
Name of CPF Chairman
Name of Constituency
Number of people contributing
to the discussion
Please provide preferred
contact details for the
response
SLCA - CPF
Les Phillimore
South Leicestershire
7+6
Date of Submission
Data Sharing Information
9/4/12
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[email protected]
Question 1
What should be the role of the Government in encouraging growth?
In a market driven economy the role of government can only be to facilitate, encourage and
promote the conditions that will support and encourage investment and growth
1/ Encourage investment (Both inward and FDI)
2/ Facilitate growth by providing / encouraging the right conditions for innovation, entrepreneurism,
business start-ups and export
3/ Lower corporation tax
4/ Improve / increase / facilitate business lending – probably moving towards regional business banks
and away from high street bank lending
5/ Improve / encourage / support infrastructure and transportation links
6/ Improve education fit for purpose for a High Tech economy but also providing and encouraging
essential Trades Skills training to become “must have” jobs.
7/ Reduce red tape
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPF Brief No 2/2012
Return Date: by 31 March 2012
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Discussion Brief Number 2/2012
Increasing productivity and supporting growth
General
Question 2
Where in the World will growth come from? Who will we be exporting to and importing
from?
1/ Growth will and should come from everywhere but most especially third world economies and
super states but should target those economies where the UK is most likely to achieve a
balanced trade arrangement
2/ Increasing High Technology investment and export led businesses whilst providing financial
value to Intellectual Property will both assist in the retention of knowledge and the ongoing
competitive advantage of the UK. It is impossible to stop certain country’s “copying” or
breaching patent protection in a global economy; therefore investment in “staying ahead of
the game” has to be a critical approach to any growth programme.
3/ Imports will and should come from whichever country is producing the most competitive goods;
that does not suggest that the BRIC’s economies should be left to rule the world.
Question 3
How can we encourage more people back into the workplace? What can the government
do to incentivise flexible or part-time working?
The first part of this question is poorly worded as it assumes that people were in employment and
are now choosing to not be – this is simply not the case and is offensive to many.
The second part of the question is taken as a policy to reduce the unemployment register through
job sharing and is not a policy supported by this CPF as that merely dilutes the available full time
jobs.
There is no response from the SLCA – CPF to these questions.
Question 4
In your area, what is the most important industry or market? If government could do one
thing to help increase growth or improve productivity in that market, what would it be?
The SLCA – CPF area is dominated by retail and distribution
The SLCA – CPF would not support any further growth in these sectors in this area as it would
prefer to see diversification away from a very narrow’ low technology and non-growth generating
sector
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPF Brief No 2/2012
Return Date: by 31 March 2012
Page 2 of 3
What challenges do you think Britain will face in 2015?
Join the conversation at www.conservativepolicyforum.com
Discussion Brief Number 2/2012
Increasing productivity and supporting growth
General
Question 5
Are there skills or resources in your area which could benefit from special support? What
are they, and what support would help?
High Technology engineering with 4 centres of higher education within easy reach.
Government support for innovation is seen as essential to drive growth and a future facing
economy.
There should be much closer links between universities and business to capitalise on high
technology and cutting edge research
Improved transport links between he education and business communities
Satellite campuses within business parks would be considered as extremely beneficial
Return to Polytechnics and increase apprenticeship take up.
Question 6
What would economic success look like in your area? Is GDP a relevant measure?
Putting Leicestershire on the map for something other that a multi-cultural city would be good
starting point.
Far too few people understand GDP for it to have any meaning to Joe public.
An easy to understand statistic would be per capita profit; therefore as higher value businesses
established themselves, per capita profit would increase and be far more relevant to local
conditions – housing, schooling, facilities etc etc.
Other Comments (if any)
Thank You. Please return to: [email protected]
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPF Brief No 2/2012
Return Date: by 31 March 2012
Page 3 of 3
What challenges do you think Britain will face in 2015?
Join the conversation at www.conservativepolicyforum.com