ministers and thej cbi for a _ ministers and thej cbi for a listing — ministers and thej cbi for a listing us. but we have had public health data _ listing to us. but we have had public health data since - listing to us. but we have had i public health data since november last year. — public health data since november last year. and _ public health data since november last year, and we _ public health data since november last year, and we have _ public health data since november last year, and we have been - public health data since november. last year, and we have been pressing and pushing — last year, and we have been pressing and pushing our— last year, and we have been pressing and pushing our argument— last year, and we have been pressing and pushing our argument since i last year, and we have been pressingl and pushing our argument since then. ithink— and pushing our argument since then. i think one _ and pushing our argument since then. i think one of— and pushing our argument since then. i think one of the _ and pushing our argument since then. i think one of the issues _ and pushi

the cbi director general said a week ago, "businesses are currently completely in the dark when planning investment." in 3—4 weeks on the job, i've seen 200 business leaders, i meet the bros — the business representative organisations — constantly, and i'm in constant dialogue with them to show and ensure that the government provides the support — £280 billion so far, which is beyond any precedent that we've seen. and we're in constant conversation not only with our stakeholders, but also with my right honourable friend, the chancellor of the exchequer. ed miliband said excuses were no substitute for a plan, and then raised the disruption that's followed the end of the brexit transition period. but according to make uk, 60% of many factors are experiencing disruption, the fashion industry say they face, and i quote, "decimation," and hauliers are warning of a permanent reduction in trade. so what personal, tangible action is the business secretary taking to get a grip and deal with the mountains of red tape now facing our businesses? well, of course, mr speaker, you will remember that ah

the cbi came out not so long ago both the total score was at 1.4 percent. pcs low as well so the fed wants to have an inflation rate to present. to remain well below that. so one reason for a very accommodative monetary policy tiis our labor market still have big gaps and the inflation rate is still too low and then i'll just brief comment on financial markets before turning over the questions. i would say that we have seen the long end of the market move up sif you look at that can your treasury. it's substantially higher than it was three orfour months ago . that is reflecting that i think financial markets are anticipating the economy will be picking up in the second half of the year and are ng anticipating that we're not going to continue to have long rates nearly as low as businesses and households es picked up on their spending. we're not doctors have risen from already high levels reflecting low interest rates at the expansionary fiscal policy and the roughly 5 percent from the beginning of the year so that's five percent yalready early insulated lev

pandemic so we have a lot of new content coming there for pep the pig, our new my little pony full-length cbis we look at consumers, they are very interested in hasbro and the categories that we are driving >> is it too simplistic to argue if there is a slowdown in gaming as people get outdoors a little bit more as we get into the summer, that it will be offset by tv, film, entertainment >> i think there are a couple of things going on. we have a robust portfolio we have a gaming business that stands into the adult audiences, with lifestyle gaming fromdunges and gragging they are playing that 24/7, 12 months a year. we are launching new initiatives there. we expect that to gather, tracking towards doubling in size over this last few year period it's on track to double by 2023 from where it was just a few years ago. having said that, you're right there are other categories that people are also playing. we saw a lot of pickup of center of as parents and kids wanted to get outside and play more actively we have seen a lot of pickup for play-doh, because, again, the creative milestones and that c

we have reduced the cbi so i'm not sure where some of these numbers are coming from because wirelessces have been going down in the united states where we are declining since 2017 and lowering prices consistently. >> they are is no doubt about that and i hear you say the marketplace competition where is it compared to telecommunications? competition will drive up the price and while companies compete do you think it's a market value that -- it's not a market failure? >> it's pretty effective in the marketplace. >> the gentleman yields back. next i believe we have robin kelly. are you there? >> sim. >> you are recognized for five minutes. >> thank you mr. chairman it's an honor to be on your committee and thank you to the witnesses for being here. the pandemic continues to shine a light on the broadband problems but the digital divide has been an issue in this country for such a long time to my district which is urban suburban and rural there are areas that black connectivity. as of 2017 i work with local government officials and industries to bring wi-fi to one of my rural areas in i

i would say to businesses, we will support you now, protect jobs now, because of the cbi, the federationk that most business people _ british business? i think that most business people that _ british business? i think that most business people that i _ british business? i think that most business people that i have - british business? i think that most business people that i have talked | business people that i have talked to, and i have talked to a great many in the last 12 months, would agree that there is no government around the world that has done more to support business, wrapping our arms around it, and i�*m delighted to hear this enthusiasm for business from the labour party when they stood on a manifesto to destroy capitalism as the last election and ed to dismantle the very pharmaceutical industry that has provided the vaccines on which we now rely. will he now repudiates that policy? we now rely. will he now repudiates that policy?— now rely. will he now repudiates that oli 7. ., ., ., . that policy? we all know what the prime minister _ that policy? we all know what the prim

let's speak to alpesh paleja, the's cbi's lead economist. thank you very much forjoining us.oll—out and all the efforts being made to keep cases down. that should really spur a recovery later this year. but of course we will see in other dip in activity in the first quarter of 2021, as most of the uk is currently in another lockdown. bearing in mind that businesses have now been battling the pandemic for a year, demand conditions are still very challenging and that has created cash flow problems. also not forgetting the amount of debt that businesses have taken on to just survive, tojust businesses have taken on to just survive, to just keep going businesses have taken on to just survive, tojust keep going during the pandemic. against this backdrop, they are really facing a cash crunch in the months ahead. as many of the government's coronavirus support measure schemes expire either at the end of this quarter or in april. so it really remains imperative to create a bridge to get viable firms over to the other side, to that recovery stage, so that they can play a role in kick—