Cullompton is not the only place where the dead hand of bureaucratic idiocy can be felt. Wherever the Chancellor might care to look, he will find examples of how the zealous interpretation of regulation is getting in the way of economic growth. When David Cameron railed against anti-enterprise bureaucrats in Cardiff a week ago, he was voicing a frustration that the country has felt for some time but that the Government appears to have just noticed.

"But what we need is for the Portuguese police to reopen the case. That is crucial."

Put the fish in a perforated 2-in hotel pan and cover that tightly with aluminum foil. Poke a few small holes in the foil to encourage circulation.

"Every reality starts with a dream. At the moment, it looks like a dream, a vision. I am sure, sooner or later, in a maximum of five years time, it will be a reality.

closed the week at 0.9126