Henry Smith MP has given his support to Crawley company Creative Pod at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, on Wednesday, 17th June.

The Crawley MP’s question in the chamber came hours after the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that youth unemployment in Crawley had fallen to 1.8 per cent, and that across all ages, the unemployment rate is down by 30 per cent in the last year, and by 62 per cent since 2010.

Henry said;

“I am always pleased to mention local companies and organisations in Parliament, and on the day where it was announced youth unemployment has fallen even further in Crawley, to 1.8 per cent, I was delighted to mention Creative Pod.”

Creative Pod are an integrated design, marketing, print and web agency, located at Basepoint in Manor Royal. The company also supports Young Start-Up Talent, and their Managing Director, Matt Turner, is a Director of Crawley Town Football Club.

The ONS figures also confirmed that across the country, employment is up by over 400,000 in the last year, and has increased by more than 2 million since 2010.

Henry continued;

“As the Prime Minister, David Cameron, was abroad to discuss EU reform, Prime Minister’s Questions was taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, in his capacity of First Secretary of State – since the recent General Election, there is no Deputy Prime Minister.

“I wanted to ask a question about the growing economy in Crawley, and was delighted to mention Creative Pod, a company who have gone from one to 12 members of staff over the last five years.”

Henry Smith, Member of Parliament for Crawley, asked the First Secretary of State;

“Employment in Crawley is at a record high level, with companies such as Creative Pod having created extra jobs. Will my right hon. Friend tell us what additional policies the Government can introduce to ensure that small and medium-sized companies can flourish further still?”

The First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, responded;

“Small and medium-sized businesses, of which around three quarters of a million have been created in the past five years, are the engine of growth in our economy, and they are one of the reasons why the claimant count in my hon. Friend’s constituency is down by almost two thirds.

“Even more encouragingly, the long-term youth claimant count is today down by 75%.

“We will go on doing things such as providing the employment allowance, which helps small businesses to employ more people.

“Of course, what would be disastrous would be to abandon the economic plan and borrow and spend more, because the worst thing for a small business is economic instability that puts them out of business.”

For video of Henry’s Question, please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2qDsdMo5Sc

Related article:
Henry Smith MP welcomes further fall in Crawley youth unemployment 
17 June 2015

External links:
Creative Pod