As we saw last month, there were signs of increased overseas spending on UK services.

Like everyone else, I am wary about the way spending is being increased at some levels.

We're giving trial customers three months of next-generation services free, and after the first month presenting them with a total of their costs and asking, 'Is that value for your money?'

Many services would be lost and there would be increased queues and waiting lists.

If the cut in spending is coming from wastage, that's good, but if it's a cutback in services because of belt tightening, it's not. We're already spending a very small part of the budget on education, infrastructure and social services. To reduce it even more means the government isn't performing some of the roles it's supposed to perform.

Using components produced overseas, we assemble 400 to 500 instruments a month in the back of our shop.