Member News
7th December 2012Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP has said he was ‘delighted’ to take part in a tele-forum conversation with stakeholders, 24-hours after the Autumn Statement.
The technology allowed the minister to speak with business owners, charity representatives, public sector workers and other interested stakeholders.
Alexander welcomed the innovative new method of engagement, which allowed participants free reign to speak directly with the Minister to discuss what the announcements in the Autumn Statement will mean for them.
“It is so important for Government to engage with a wide variety of interested parties and this technology allowed me to speak with a single shop owner in Aberdeen at the same time as national trade associations”, he said.
Clarity on opportunities for small and medium sized businesses, and access to finance emerged as a key concern while the debate also centred on the Government’s strategy to prioritise capital investment as a key driver for recovery.
Other questions ranged from the new approach to private finance initiatives to the impact of the Autumn Statement on women.
Alexander said it was a “fascinating” conversation and that he was very much “looking forward” to doing it again.
Chair of the session, Paul Waugh, Editor of PoliticsHome.com said there were lots of “detailed, informed questions and some candid replies”.
Reflecting on the value of this technology to reach out to a broad cross-section of society, further Tel. the Minister sessions are being scheduled with Ministers across Government.
Each session, which is open and free to attend, will be followed by a report containing Ministerial foreword, analysis of all participants’ questions and answers and opinion research conducted during the call.