§ 18. Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from small business representatives about taxation. [60356]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe Government have received a number of representations from a variety of organisations.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what bilateral discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding new taxes and regulations imposed on small businesses. [63083]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe Chancellor meets regularly with Cabinet colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Since 1997 the Government have introduced numerous measures to help small business, including:
making 40 per cent. first year capital allowances permanent;implementing the recommendations of the Carter Review of Payroll Services;cutting the small companies' rate of corporation tax from 23 per cent. to just 19 per cent. and reducing the 10 per cent. starting rate to zero;introducing a 10p starting rate of income tax; andintroducing measures to ease the impact of VAT on small business.The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are fair and effective, so that they protect the vulnerable but do not stifle enterprise or productivity. Policy is to regulate only when necessary. Where appropriate the Government have exempted small business from certain regulations. Two examples are, exempting small shops from the new EU unit pricing requirements and exempting employers with 20 or fewer employees from the trade union recognition procedures in the Employment Relations Act.