Jonathan Djanogly, Member of Parliament for the Huntingdon Constituency, yesterday spoke on the 2nd Reading of the Enterprise Bill. Whilst acknowledging that the Bill did not contain matters which would be of benefit to commerce and the protection of consumers, Mr Djanogly disputed that the Bill, taken as a whole, would do much, if anything, to improve enterprise and help businesses' productivity.
Mr Djanogly said:
"The Government are entirely wrong to believe that they can make markets work, although they can regulate them. The only thing that will make markets work is Governments' staying away from them as much as possible. What makes markets work - what increases productivity, competition and enterprise in small and large businesses - is freeing labour markets, reducing regulation and lowering corporate taxes.
Local businesses constantly tell me how their businesses are suffering from red tape and regulation. The Government's belief that they will improve businesses' ability to compete by increasing regulations on them is a fantasy."