Economy is give and take for Bank agent

Saturday 5th April 2008, 9:29AM BST.

Bank of England agent John Whitley is in the island until Monday. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0560007)

GUERNSEY’S business community is playing a role in forming the strategies of the UK’s Monetary Policy Committee.

Bank of England agent John Whitley is in the island getting feedback from local businesses about economic conditions. He will report back to the MPC, which determines UK interest rates.

‘The idea is to ensure it gets very direct and prompt information on what happening in the economy,’ said Mr Whitley. ‘I’ve come to Guernsey because it has strong links with the UK so it’s important to get feedback from businesses about what the economic conditions are like for companies here.’