Business owners look to Osborne’s budget for assistance

They called for measures to support entrepreneurs, including a reduction in red tape, scrapping a planned rise in capital gains tax and putting pressure on nationalised banks to meet lending targets.
In addition, they called for more apprenticeship schemes to help reduce youth unemployment, a greater commitment to improving the digital infrastructure, a simplified tax system and a freeze on increases to the minimum wage when Osborne delivers his emergency Budget on June 22.
Brian Sloan, head of business and economic policy at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our members hope the Budget will contain the substance and clarity that will enable them to plan once again, helping to secure the recovery and create much-needed private sector jobs.”
The Forum of Private Business, said reducing the deficit was a priority but it was important that enterprise policies and small business support programmes were not sacrificed.
“The focus must be on helping owners get a better grip on their own businesses,” said head of policy Matt Goodman. “That means a finance and enterprise culture that is conducive to business growth, not restrictive.”
The FPB said confidence among its members has been dented amid fears of tax hikes.
Len Collinson, leader of Private Sector Partners, said: “There must be no nasty tax surprises such as an increase in corporation tax for smaller firms. Businesses require certainty to plan their finances and growth. The coalition shows encouraging signs of being pro-business. The Budget will reveal if that is empty lip service.
“Businesses are sweltering in a pressure cooker of red tape and regulation. This burden has to be eased to allow firms to get on with the job of creating wealth and jobs.”
IoD regional director Darrell Matthews, said a capital gains tax rise risked being anti-investment and anti-business.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of British Industry said the huge deficit should be tackled with £4 in spending cuts for every £1 of tax hikes.
David Cameron warned this week of ‘painful’ cuts ahead to bring the public finances under control. The coalition has announced £6.2bn in spending cuts so far.