THE latest quarterly GDP
figures, due out today, are expected to show that the economic
recovery has continued to strengthen. Some analysts predict growth
of up to one per cent. But the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned
that without "a deep spiritual base in the Christian tradition",
growth by itself was "insufficient" for the country's
well-being.
Speaking to The Sunday
Telegraph, Archbishop Welby called for a caring society in
which the poor benefited from economic success. "A flourishing
economy is necessary, but not sufficient," he said. "A healthy
society flourishes and distributes economic resources effectively,
but also has a deep spiritual base. . . A deep spiritual base in
the Christian tradition enables [society] to shape its way of life,
and care for each other in accordance with the teachings of
Christ."
He welcomed the prospect
that a growing economy could produce new jobs, "particularly in
areas of historically very long-term unemployment,
multi-generational unemployment", and emphasised the importance of
affordable housing.
The Nationwide Building
Society's monthly Housing Price Index showed that UK house prices
increased by 0.9 per cent in September, and were five per cent
higher than in September 2012. But it warned that "construction is
still running well below what is likely to be required to keep up
with demand. . . The risk is that if demand continues to run ahead
of supply, affordability may become stretched."
Archbishop Welby's strongest
words were directed at the home energy companies that have begun
announcing significant rises of about ten per cent in the price of
domestic gas and electricity. He said that the energy companies
should be "conscious of their social obligations", and "behave with
generosity". He said that energy companies that had put up prices
had to "justify fully what they are doing", saying that "the impact
on people, particularly on low incomes, is going to be really
severe.
"I do understand when people
feel that this is inexplicable, and I can understand people being
angry about it, because having spent years on a low income as a
clergyman, I know what it is like when your household budget is
blown apart by a significant extra fuel bill, and your anxiety
levels become very high. That is the reality of it."