Karl McCartney MP, the Member of Parliament for the City of Lincoln, today hosted a Red Tape Business Breakfast in the Tennyson Room of the Bailgate Assembly Rooms in Lincoln.
The event, which was also attended by the Minister for Government Policy at the Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP, the County Councillor for Bracebridge, Cllr Marc Jones, and the City Councillor for Birchwood, Cllr Edmund Strengiel, brought together representatives from all levels of Central and Local Government. The Red Tape Business Breakfast provided a practical and pragmatic forum for discussing how to continue and improve upon Lincoln's exemplary performance since 2010 in nurturing and creating new and successful business thanks to the economic environment created by this Conservative-led Government.
Also in attendance at the event were numerous businesses and organisations such as Lincolnshire Co-operative, Siemens, Waitrose, Simons Group, Gelder Group and representatives from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). This Breakfast provided a unique opportunity for businesses and third sector providers, both large and small, to put questions directly to representatives from Government, the House of Commons, Lincolnshire County Council and the City of Lincoln Council to discuss issues and concerns that could, or are, acting as barriers to continuing business and economic growth in Lincoln.
Karl McCartney MP said:
“Today’s Red Tape Business Breakfast has been an extremely successful and illuminating event for all concerned. I would like to thank all the businesses, organisations, Council Officers and Councillors, and, of course, my Parliamentary Colleague, the Minister for Government Policy, Oliver Letwin, for their time today.
“Having worked in both Local Government and small businesses during two decades before being elected, I am very aware that bureaucratic red tape can tie up small business owners and managers and takes them away from their primary objective of running a successful, profitable and expanding business. Rules and regulations are being removed by this Government and UKTI, who can also assist small businesses to import and export their products and services around the world.
“The national economic recovery package the Conservative-led Government put in place has resulted in record numbers of business start-ups in almost every quarter since 2010and the cost of UK regulation has fallen by £1.19 billion since 2011. Nevertheless, there is always more to do for the simple reason that our economy relies upon businesses - their innovation, employment, income generation and contribution provide the backbone of prosperity for our Nation. As Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, I want to do all I can to help business and this event provided another opportunity for me to do just that.”
Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP, the Minister for Government Policy, said:
"It was very refreshing to hear from a whole range of business people with a real passion for Lincoln and a drive to create success in the City. One message was clear from the Breakfast - deregulation and the cutting of red tape is a must for growth to flourish and the Government hears this loud and clear."
“Business in Lincoln - both small and large - is going to be hugely important as we look to build on Britain’s recovery as part of our long term economic plan."