Budget business measures a useful start says BRC
The business friendly tone of the Budget is welcome but questions remain about whether, in these very difficult times, the Chancellor’s measures go far enough.
Reacting to the Budget yesterday, British Retail Consortium Director General Stephen Robertson said: “The Chancellor is right to stand firm on austerity measures to bring the deficit under control and to refocus on the need to boost economic growth, given falling forecasts for GDP. Consistency of direction is crucial for jobs and investment – this is no time for zig-zag Government.
“This Budget offers some support for enterprise. Certainly, the small business measures set the right tone but they should be applied more widely.
“We look forward to the promised reductions in regulatory burdens. They must be applied to legislation that has real impacts on business, not just to long-disused rules, so that significant cost reductions result.”
Fuel costs – Cutting fuel duty by 1p and delaying the 1p fuel duty increase due next month
Stephen Robertson said: “This is more help than expected and a very welcome relief from some of the fuel cost pressure that’s hitting businesses as well as households. On its own it won’t make a huge difference to household budgets but should give a boost to struggling consumer confidence.”
Planning Relaxation of planning laws to help businesses get development projects going.
Stephen Robertson said: “This could be a major step forward for investment and therefore jobs. We need a planning system that’s streamlined, efficient and delivers more certainty and predictability. A presumption in favour of development and removing unnecessary planning requirements will help economic growth and free planners to accelerate decisions where they should be involved. For example, it should be made easier to make internal changes to commercial buildings.”
