GDP data positive sign for economy - Osborne

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne leaves Downing Street in London June 22, 2011.

LONDON (Reuters) - Chancellor George Osborne on Tuesday welcomed news that the economy expanded in the second quarter, saying it showed Britain was continuing to grow and create jobs.

In a statement released after official data showed the economy expanded by 0.2 percent between April and June, Osborne also reiterated the government would stick to its plans to reduce the budget deficit over the next four years.

"The positive news is that the British economy is continuing to grow and is creating jobs," Osborne said in a statement.

"Our economy is stable at this time because this government has taken the difficult decisions to get to grips with Britain's debts. Abandoning that now, as some argue we should, would only risk British jobs and growth," he said.

(Reporting by Fiona Shaikh)