Government hindering economic progress - Parsley

12.00.00am GMT Sat 12th Nov 2005

As the Government explained its budget to MLAs this week, North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley said 'tax and spend' plans would serve only to hinder economic progress, and as such will damage the political process.

Speaking as the budget was debated by North Down Borough Council, Cllr Parsley stated: "People in Northern Ireland are being kidded into thinking there is a significant gap between what people here and what people in other UK regions pay into the public purse. In fact, when you take into account average income and costs for basic necessities such as fuel, this gap is negligible. The real gap is between the wealth we create, and the wealth created elsewhere in the UK.

"Despite this, the Government has totally failed to focus on economic development and helping business and investment. Its own statements concerning the budget mention economic development not once. Instead, the Government has decided to hike rates by nearly 20% to the extent that many people in Northern Ireland will have to give up holidays, leisure, and even their own homes.

"'Tax and spend' is no way to make progress in Northern Ireland. Our share of the UK's wealth has barely increased in the past decade, despite the promises of 'peace' and 'political settlement'.

"It is not so much that the political process will assist economic progress, but rather than economic progress will assist the political process. We must get our priorities right."

ENDS