John Healey: “It's really tough in the face of these economic global shocks”

My observation on the banks is that people too often see them as big, distant financial institutions, when they are hardwired into the economic fabric of this country and our future prospects.

We will meet those fiscal rules, and I think one of the hallmarks of the IMF’s backing of our fiscal plans is recognition that there isn’t just a forecast for the future, but there’s some evidence of performance already.

This week I will meet international finance ministers in Bangkok to discuss how we limit the impact of the conflicts on people and businesses, while maintaining strong fiscal discipline.

Despite conflicts in the Middle East and Europe hitting people across the world, today's figures offer more proof of Britain's resilience in the face of these global shocks.