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FSB welcomes a Budget speech with no nasty
surprises
Sector: Central Government
Date Created: Wed 12th Mar 2008, 15:15:21
Source: The Federation of Small Businesses
Link: www.fsb.org.uk
UK - The Federation of Small Businesses,
FSB, welcomed a Budget speech with few alarms and surprises for the
UK’s 4.5 million-strong small business community.
John Wright, FSB National Chairman, said:
“The Treasury’s dithering since the Pre-Budget report and a series
of damaging tax rises in the last year have totally undermined the Government’s
position with small businesses.
“Alistair Darling’s first Budget is unlikely to make that situation
much better, but it is a relief that it will not make it any worse either. Finally
it seems we may have an announcement from the Chancellor that doesn’t spring
any nasty surprises on small businesses.
“The deferral of plans to change income shifting rules, which would have
forced tens of thousands of family businesses to create and
maintain a massive amount of extra paperwork on individuals' contributions to
their business, is welcome news. The plans should now be abandoned
permanently.
“We welcome the freeze on fuel duty until October, but the issue is unlikely
to go away. The cost of fuel is damaging small businesses
and their customers in every industry and every area of the country.
“Plans to reform regulation, improve access to finance by expanding the
small firms
loan guarantee scheme, help female entrepreneurs and for a goal to give at least
30 per cent of public sector procurement to small and medium-sized
businesses
all have our support. These plans will need to be backed up with real action.
“Small businesses are totally opposed
to road pricing that does not discriminate between essential business use
of the roads and non-essential use. We’re worried that the Chancellor appears
to be pushing ahead despite massive opposition.
“The laudable aim to make all new non-domestic buildings zero carbon by
2019 must be handled carefully because it could restrict small businesses’ access
to premises.”
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