Cabinet finger-pointing over growth - FT.com David Cameron, prime minister David Cameron's cabinet descended into finger-pointing on Tuesday as ministers turned on each other for failing to do more to deliver growth ahead of next week's Autumn Statement. Ministers complained that a slow rollout of broadband, a feeble start to a flagship back-to-work scheme and bureaucracy around a new visa system were among the problems holding back the recovery. Downing Street confirmed that some departments were "not doing as well as they should be" in delivering growth and cutting red tape, in a sign of political tensions building ahead of George Osborne's mini-Budget on December 5. Mr Osborne gave a growth presentation that highlighted slow progress in providing high-speed internet access to all parts of the UK, in spite of the scheme receiving £530m of government cash to match private investment. The chancellor also renewed tensions with Iain Duncan Smith, work and pensions secretary, when he pointed out that his Work Programme had found sustained jobs for just 2 per cent of those going on to it in the first year. Other ministers feeling the heat in the "star chamber" session included Eric Pickles, communities secretary, who was asked why a third of new enterprise zones did not yet have any business occupants. Mr Pickles and Vince Cable, business secretary, were also challenged on why new local enterprise partnerships were not delivering more jobs on the ground; Mr Pickles insisted they were working and that transport access was improving. Meanwhile, Theresa May, home secretary, was in India trying to dispel "myths" about the UK's visa system being hostile to students and new talent from abroad, so was not in cabinet to hear renewed criticisms of the system by Mr Cable. Mr Cameron, Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister, and Mr Osborne took it in turns to challenge government departments on their progress. "The purpose of this process is to keep up the pressure," the prime minister's spokesman said. The search for growth will be an integral part of Mr Osborne's Autumn Statement, against a backdrop of a sluggish recovery which has knocked the chancellor's plan for deficit reduction off track. Britain's economy grew 1 per cent between the second and third quarters, as originally estimated, but economists warned that recent improvements in household spending and net trade could be shortlived. The Office for National Statistics's unchanged second estimate of GDP suggests the economy did recover from its double-dip recession at a rapid pace in the third quarter, but early data from the fourth quarter is less encouraging. "The robust growth in comparison with the same quarter last year suggests the Olympics and Paralympic Games may have had a positive and significant effect on household spending patterns," the ONS said. Meanwhile, the OECD forecast that the UK's public finances would remain in bad shape next year; it expects Britain to have a cyclically adjusted budget deficit of 5.7 per cent in 2013, worse than any other member bar Japan. However, the OECD said the UK's fiscal consolidation "remains appropriate to ensure the sustainability of the public finances" and Mr Osborne is not expected to deviate from his Plan A in his statement next week.