HC Deb 18 July 2002 vol 389 cc466-7W
27. Mr. Prisk

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the tax burden on small enterprises. [68428]

Dawn Primarolo

The Government's aim is to make Britain one of the most competitive environments for business in the world—since 1997 the Government have cut the corporate tax bills of small companies by around 30 per cent., rewarding the entrepreneurial spirit and promoting growth. The Government have introduced numerous measures to help small enterprises since 1997, includingtaking forward the recommendations of the Carter Review of Payroll Services; cutting the small companies rate of corporation tax from 23 per cent. to 19 per cent. and introducing a starting rate which we are now cutting from 10 per cent. to zero; introducing a 10p starting rate of income tax; making 40 per cent. first year capital allowances permanent; and introducing measures to ease the impact of VAT on small business.