Harry Hamilton Conservatives and Unionists candidate for Upper Bann has welcomed the launch of 'Change for the better in Financial Services' by the Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, describing it as a positive step in the right direction to ensuring banks work for

ordinary people.

In a statement Harry said:

"George set out a number of innovative proposals about how we will get banks working for ordinary people and businesses again. We must ensure that the catastrophic collapse of the banks and the taxpayer bailout of 2008 do not happen again.

"When I talk to local businessmen and women the number one problem they face is that banks are still not lending.

"George's pledge to take action within 50 days of the election to get credit flowing to businesses will be music to the ears of our local business community. Only Conservatives and Unionists can deliver this necessary change for Northern Ireland.

"It has become evident that our local politicians have had little impact on the lending practices of our local banks. The importance of having Conservative and Unionist MPs at the heart of the UK's government cannot be underestimated.

"Our pledge to create a new Consumer Protection Agency to take over the roles of the Financial Services Authority and the Office of Fair Trading is vital if we want to adequately protect consumers of financial products.

"Anyone who has witnessed the failure of our current regulatory systems to protect savers in the Presbyterian Mutual Society will welcome this promise.

"Under the Labour Government the UK's economy has become overly reliant on a speculative banking system and public spending. Our plans form part of a larger process of rebalancing the economy to ensure we have a burgeoning private sector, based on investment and exports.

"Having a banking system that supports local business is crucial to rebalancing Northern Ireland's economy. Conservatives and Unionists are the only candidates who can deliver that change for Northern Ireland.