Treasury: Government determined to stick with deficit reduction plan

A spokesman from the Treasury commented on the lower than expected growth figures:

"The economy is recovering from a recession we now know was deeper than we thought and the deepest of any major economy except Japan.

"The government will stick to the deficit reduction plan which has won the UK credibility and stability, but the most important thing for the economy now is restoring confidence, which will depend on the eurozone decisively dealing with its problems."