Minister for the South West Jim Knight said:

"I welcome the news that the UK economy has returned to growth. The country and the region has pulled together with actions from government and business combining to good effect. We have introduced a number of measures to keep families at risk of repossession in their own homes, get people back into work, and support business and manufacturing with the car scrappage scheme and tax deferral.

"But we are not complacent, and we will continue to support jobs and growth in order to secure a fair future for all.

"It would be dangerous to make deep cuts when the economy is still recovering, as the Tories propose - risking the future of families and businesses across the South West and risking a doubling of unemployment."