[Margaret Pilkington]

Bernie, the business rates are set by local government...so if they were one of the factors in these places closing down then it is due to local politics rather than national politics.

There has been a shrinking of the building industry.....fewer houses being built, so if fewer houses are built,then fewer bricks are sold.........

Rists(TML) were dependent on the manufacture of cars, and that market has been shrinking for a while......I'm thinking that a lot of their business was lost with the demise of Rover....and it has really got a lot worse recently........the governemnt could subsidise motor manufacturing using the tax payers money......but then if cars are not selling, what would be the point?
There has to be a chance to recoup the money.