Election debate 4

Q4: How do you propose to build the UK's manufacturing industry up again?

Clegg: Three things: 1. Get the banks lending. 2. INvest in the kind of things we need in the future, renewable energy, public transport. We need to invest in young people and in businesses. But it is all about banks helping businesses - if they don't then it is very difficult for businesses.

Brown: Believes we can create jobs in plenty of areas, and we are investing in the areas where there is growth - but the banks must spend, we will maintain the regional development agencies - we must back the regional manufacturers.More going to uni (not sure how this helps things). Comments on the Conservatives policy of taking money out of the economy now. Back on this again.

Cameron: Things are bad. We must invest in our science base, in apprenticeships, making it easier for businesses to employ people (here comes the NI tax again). Accuses Brown of confusing the government and the economy. Government should give 1/4 of it's contracts to small firms - helping to get them going.

Comment: All basically argue that to begin with the banks need to start lending these small businesses money so that they can expand. Clegg's argument of putting money into 'green' businesses is a good one, but one the other two claim they will do the same. Cameron again simply damns Brown's comments, and dare I say it, doesn't actually answer Brown's questions.