Chancellor George Osborne praised Winchester's city council and its business community on Tuesday 10th September while speaking in the House of Commons.
He was responding to a question from MP Steve Brine about Government support for small businesses which he said was central to the mission to create new private sector jobs.
Mr Brine asked the Chancellor if he would welcome the new Business Centre, which the MP opened in Parchment Street in July to 'find a develop new start-ups in the city centre' and reported the recent findings of the Winchester Business Barometer which showed increased takings and reduced vacancies on the High Street as well as increasing business confidence.
He asked Mr Osborne to join him in backing the City Council's work on driving the recovery and its strong partnership with the Business Improvement District (BID) which he said was really 'driving recovery in the area'.
In response the Chancellor said; "I have met members of the local authority who came to Downing Street to tell me about the business improvement district. That involves the local council, the local MP and local businesses working together to attract jobs and investment to Winchester. I congratulate him on the leadership he has shown."
The Chancellor's comments follow praise for the city's businesses earlier this year from Lib Dem Business Secretary, Vince Cable, who said the council's measures to improve the local economy were 'music to my ears'.
Yesterday Mr Osborne gave a speech in London saying that, while there is still a long way to go, the economy is turning a corner.
Pictured; Steve opens the new Business Centre, based on Parchment Street
More information ...
Treasury Questions from Tuesday 10th September can be viewed here.
