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FSB National Chairman Carol Undy gave the following reaction to Gordon Brown's ninth budget speech:
On regulatory enforcement:
"The Hampton report is encouraging.
There are currently over 300 different kinds of inspections carrying a
right of entry into business premises and the whole army of inspectors
desperately needs to be rationalised."
"Every single inspection interrupts
day-to-day business. Hardworking business owners must be able to
concentrate on what they are good at - job creation and wealth
generation. We urged Philip Hampton to work towards a single
general-purpose inspector. His recommendation to merge 35
inspectorates into 9 is an important start."
On red tape:
"Businesses have been promised bonfires of red tape in the past and they have never been ignited."
"The Better Regulation Taskforce
report is certainly radical. A more systematic assessment of the
administrative cost of regulation should replace the assumptions that
are made at present. A "one-in-one-out approach" may bring about a
much needed cultural change within the civil service and a commitment
to tackle "gold plating" is welcome."
But whether or not the report will
result in "fundamental change" and "a red tape revolution" awaits to be
seen. Businesses are cynical because of past broken promises - 30
reports, seven white papers and two acts of parliament during the last
20 years alone."
Other issues:
On payroll burdens:
"At the 2004 budget, the Chancellor
said that he accepted the case for the Inland Revenue paying the
working tax credit directly to claimants. It was about time he
announced the timetable for this change, and employers and employees
alike will welcome the introduction of direct payment from November
2005."
On the administration of tax:
"Hardworking business owners will
welcome the introduction of a range of flexible payment options for tax
bills and we call for them to be implemented immediately."
On commercial rents:
"The Government's failure to outlaw upwards only rent review clauses is a cop out."
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
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