Government's promotion of economy rings hollow in light of Review of Public Administration

4.18.09pm GMT Tue 6th Dec 2005

Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley has said that the Secretary of State's comments on the Northern Ireland economy will ring hollow after the Review of Public Administration failed even to look at the needs of small businesses.

Speaking prior to NILGA discussions about a response to the Review of Public Administration, Cllr Parsley stated: "The Secretary of State spoke today in glowing terms about the Northern Ireland economy.

"However, the key players trying to create wealth in that economy, the small businesses, will soon be severely restricted in their ability to create the jobs that the Secretary of State talked about today.

"The Secretary of State talks about our low unemployment rate. This is very welcome. But the gap in employment since 1985 has in fact been entirely made up of creating jobs in the public sector and increasing benefit pay outs. This is not a sound economic basis. On the contrary, Northern Ireland's dependence on subvention from London has doubled in the last ten years - while we have supposedly been enjoying peace!

"The Government needs to turn its attention to real wealth creation. Yet Government policy in Northern Ireland is a disaster for small businesses. If, as alleged, the Government wishes to scale down bureaucracy, it will be looking to small businesses to provide jobs for those made redundant. Yet at the same time it hits small businesses with extra water charges, removal of industrial derating and rates hikes.

"This comes on top of ill-thought-out plans hatched by the Treasury in London on national insurance, pensions and the minimum wage which, while they are sound policies in general, are already penalizing small businesses.

"Small business owners are more than prepared to pay their way. They are the ones who have taken the risk to try to create jobs and wealth directly. However, they need a Government prepared to listen to real concerns rather than engage in platitudes."

ENDS