Lib Dems Call for More to be Done for Small Businesses in North Wilts

9.46.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Apr 2005

Liberal Democrat candidate Paul Fox today urged voters to support the party's plans for small business. Referring to the Liberal Democrat 'Setting Business Free' Focus document he said:

"It is time that the government gave small businesses more opportunity to succeed. Large companies have a competitive advantage over their smaller counterparts as they can dedicate resources solely to dealing with the regulatory burden placed upon them by the state. We want to do more to support small shops and other businesses in North Wiltshire as we see this sector as the lifeblood of our local economy in towns such as Chippenham, Malmesbury, Corsham and Wootton Bassett where significant numbers of people work and live."

Continuing he gave details of measures the Liberal Democrats would implement in government:

"We want tackle the problems that small businesses face in a number of ways. We would reduce the regulatory burden by bringing to an end the procession of inspectors from various government agencies by unifying all visits in into one performed by a new Small Business Inspectorate. Alongside this we would reform the business rates system to provide an allowance of up to £1,500 for businesses with a rateable value of under £25,000. For the majority of small businesses this would amount to a saving of £600 per year. We would also introduce measures to reduce the pressure on new small businesses in their first eighteen months of operation."