Who writes this stuff? Much of “Building Britain’s Future – New Industry, New Jobs”, the latest attempt by the government to jolly business on, consists of meaningless truisms and woolly aspirations dressed up as immediate action. Government needs to “focus on the resources our businesses and people need to prepare for the upturn, because their success is the basis for everything else we want to achieve”, it says. No funding for lossmaking livestock, then. We can also look forward to “further detailed statements of policy in the coming weeks and months [which] will build into a picture of how we can pull together to come through more strongly and secure Britain’s future economic success”. A picture. Hardly the “lifeline” business is seeking.

So the document disappoints on style, especially given the energy with which Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, has flagged its arrival. What about on substance? It promises four policy frameworks, six new strategies, two reports or reviews and one consultation. Some of these have already been heralded elsewhere. As for concrete initiatives to help business, it is hard to distinguish between them.