This is the parliamentary question time for questions to the Minister for Business and Enterprise.

Members of the Commons may question the Minister for Business and Enterprise on any issue relating to his department. Each member is limited to one question per week.

This House recognises miniyoda008 as the Minister for Business and Enterprise, and requests that he answers all questions posed to him.

This House recognises Verdi as the Shadow Minister for Business and Enterprise, and as such grants him the right to ask six questions per week.

The government may only be asked to answer one question at a time - no new questions may be submitted until the previous one has been answered. If the government does not answer, action may be taken by the speaker of the commons.

I therefore open this session with the following question:

Will the Minister for Business and Enterprise please tell us of his department's aims for this session of parliament?

Our initial priority is obviously to counter the current economic crisis. Discussions over exact plans will be ongoing for a while, but we hope to counter the recession by encouraging investment by businesses, which will increase actual and potential growht of the economy.

How will the Government deal with the Hartford Group, the demise of HartfordFinance, and what does the future hold for the Hartford Group? Is the Government in favour of privatisation after semi-nationalising parts of the Group? What does the Government intend to do with the Exilian Branch?

Oo, I could actually answer this. That would be interesting. I think I shall.

Regarding the case of the Hartford Group, I support the policy of my fellow party member The Right Honourable Commoncold0.

If the Boo Party's ARCHANGEL and COMRADE projects drive the government into the red, what will you do?

Even the Boo Party would struggle to come up with ideas that would waste vast amounts of money and would actually be supported (and no, that's not a challenge). Due to the prudence of previous governments we have enormous reserves that can be used if large expenditure is required.

Do you have any plans to use these on any large-scale works projects?...

I TAKE THAT AS A CHALLENGE!

Order! Please keep your voice down. I remind you that this is a question time, not a yelling competition. :tophat:

I would like to pose the question, which areas of the economy are set for the largest investments?

We currently have plans for projects regarding social affairs and the environment, though the implementation of them may depend on how the economy goes.

Could I possibly have an answer to my question please?...

That was an answer to yours and Verdi's questions rolled into one.

Can you give us any information on unemployment at the current time?

No

* looks to Pokemaniac John for information *

Unemployment levels have been gradually rising since the start of the recession. However, levels are still manageable thanks to existing legislation on the subject.

All is quiet on the Hartford Group front. What is happening to the 89000ish displaced workers? And the Group in general?