Priti Patel meets with Weymouth businesses
Treasury Minister meets businesses in Weymouth to share government’s vision for the economy in the South West.
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Priti Patel visited Weymouth today (Thursday 29 January) to meet with over 70 local businesses at an event organised by the Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce and the Dorset Chamber of Commerce.
At the event, the Treasury Minister spoke about the government support available for businesses in the local area.
She cited the Regional Growth Fund, which has provided £210 million of funding in the South West, supported 39 projects, created 36,000 jobs and generated £700 million private investment.
The Minister also spoke about the government’s plans to boost the local economy.
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor visited Plymouth to launch the long term economic plan for the South West. The plan, which is expected to add over £6 billion to the local economy, includes a commitment to sustain the existing high rate of job creation which could see 150,000 more people in employment by the end of the decade.
In Weymouth and Portland, employment has risen by 2,100 over the last year and by 4,800 during this parliament. Across the South West, employment has risen by 81,000 over the last year and by 128,000 during this parliament.
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Priti Patel, said:
I am delighted to be here in Weymouth today to meet the local businesses that are helping to drive the economy in the South West.
Small and local businesses are the backbone of our economy, and the government is working hard to create the right conditions for them to prosper.
Earlier this week, the government launched the long term economic plan for the South West, and today, the government has announced it is investing a further £1 billion in local economies across England by expanding the successful Growth Deals.
This is great news for Dorset, which will receive £12.6m of investment – helping to build a stronger local economy and create more jobs in the area.