§ 17. Mr. Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield)What discussions he has had in advance of the Budget with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding new taxes and regulations affecting small businesses. [99478]
§ The Paymaster General (Dawn Primarolo)The Chancellor regularly meets my right hon. Friend, at which time he discusses a full range of relevant issues, including the Government's success in reducing corporation tax on companies and introducing such reforms as the research and development tax credit and improvements to the capital gains tax regime.
§ Mr. MitchellWhen those Ministers meet, why do they not hang their heads in shame at the dreadful effect of their policies? On tax, have they not put £37 billion on businesses? On regulations, have there not been 3,866 every year under this rotten Government?
§ Dawn PrimaroloI do not know where the hon. Gentleman has been, but this Government have cut small business tax and cut corporation tax. We have reformed capital gains tax so that we have the most competitive system and introduced research and development tax credits. As the Organisation for Economic Development and Co-operation has pointed out, we have an entrepreneurial base and the best environment of any economy.