North Wiltshire MP James Gray asked a question of Mark Hoban, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, about "what steps he plans to take to support economic growth in the south-west …because times have been tough in North Wiltshire in recent years, particularly as a result of a contraction in food production and defence."

Mr. Hoban replied that "there are a number of initiatives in the Budget to support economic growth in the regions. We estimate that up to 54,000 businesses in the south-west will benefit from the national insurance contributions exemption for new businesses".

Mr. Gray went on to highlight the outstanding report that was published by constituent Sir James Dyson on Innovation and Technology. Mr. Hoban agreed that "Sir James Dyson made an important contribution to the debate on increasing the high-tech sector, and the Government are looking at the implementation of his findings." And that the government is "committed to ensuring that the UK again becomes a centre for high-tech manufacturing."