HEATH TELLS GOVERNMENT "REMEMBER RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE CREDIT CRUNCH"

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Oct 2008

Somerton and Frome MP David Heath has spoken today in Parliament to highlight the severe effect the credit crisis is having on his constituents.

With several high profile banks given substantial rescue packages by the Government in recent weeks, Mr Heath called on the Government to also provide assistance to the many local businesses in rural areas that are struggling with the credit crisis.

David said:

"These businesses are not household names, but are every bit as important in their own areas as the collapse of some big name in the city. The impact of their problems on the local community is just as devastating and far reaching, especially given the difficulties that rural areas face in attracting new business.

My constituency has gone from strength to strength in recent times and we must do all we can to ensure that this is sustained."

In addition David Heath raised serious concerns that the Government are not doing enough to stop the worrying rise in home repossessions. He noted the various possibilities that the Government could take to curtail this problem:

"As it stands my constituents find it difficult enough to pay for their mortgages or indeed buy a property in the village they grew up in, given the disparity between income and house prices in the region. One example would be to take equity in people's houses to stop them from being repossessed if their homes are under threat."