Press Release: New Rugby MP meets C&W Chamber members

The newly-elected Rugby MP, Mark Pawsey, has met with business leaders from the town to discuss how the coalition Government aims to drive economic recovery.Around 30 members of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce met with Pawsey during a breakfast event hosted by the Rugby Branch of the chamber held at the Dunchurch Park Hotel, in Rugby Road.The MP spoke on issues ranging from business rates and simplifying the tax system to cutting red tape for business and the scrapping of regional development agencies (RDA) such as Advantage West Midlands.Pawsey, who previously ran his own catering supplies firm from the town, indicated that he believed small and medium enterprises could act as an “engine for growth” as the UK looks to emerge from high levels of national debt and unemployment.He said: “I think we have to understand the days of the traditional industries are behind us, they have gone to low income economies and they are never coming back.“We must find ways to support new businesses and ensure that it is as easy as possible for them to get off the ground.“That means reducing the amount of legislation companies have to deal with through simplifying unnecessarily complicated things like the payroll system.“We must also understand the importance of embracing and supporting companies in the area that are moving away from traditional engineering to develop and produce new technologies.”He also suggested that the introduction of local enterprise partnerships to replace RDAs could be a positive thing for Rugby as it would allow the town to forge stronger links with its natural geographical neighbours rather than being reliant on decisions taken in Birmingham – an area he felt Rugby had very little in common with. Members also raised concerns surrounding the level of unoccupied units in the town centre but Pawsey insisted that Rugby was in a strong position compared to towns of a similar size across the country – citing the recent addition of the Asda complex as an example of this.He also suggested that the planned development of the former BT mast site and the Rugby Gateway could act as catalyst to attract retailers to the region.Simon Leech, Rugby branch chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We were delighted that Mr Pawsey took the time to meet with business people from the town and address their concerns in an open forum.“I think the meeting brought out some very interesting points, particularly the high levels of red tape surrounding employment law and the tax system.“We hope Mr Pawsey will take these concerns on board and lobby for real change, as soon as possible, with his colleagues in Westminster.”ENDSMedia enquiries:Lee CordenAdvent Communications2 Edison BuildingElectric WharfSandy LaneCoventry CV1 4JATel: 024 7663 3636http://www.advent-communications.co.uk