During a debate on the economic situation, John Bercow highlights the importance of helping small businesses as accounting for the majority of the private-sector workforce and therefore at the forefront of the economic recovery.

John Bercow (Buckingham) (Con): I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way, because he is presenting us with the benefit of his considerable commercial acumen and experience.

Am I not right in recollecting that somewhat over 99 per cent. of businesses employ fewer than 100 people, that those businesses account for somewhat more than 50 per cent. of the private-sector work force, and that they generate two fifths or thereabouts of our national output?

Mr. Binley: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I am grateful to him for further emphasising the importance of the sector, thus helping me to make my point effectively.

When we talk about small and medium-sized businesses, we are talking about a sector that will lie at the very foundation of any recovery from recession when green shoots appear. We need to ensure that that sector is as healthy as it can be, we need to ensure that it retains its skills, and, most of all, we need to ensure that the necessary structure is in place.

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