Nicholas Soames has signed a Parliamentary Motion tabled by his colleague, Brian Binley, urging the Government to give small businesses the credit and recognition that they deserve as champions for enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Mr Soames said; “The corporate tax rise in this year’s Budget will have a negative impact on small businesses. We need a simpler and fairer tax system that enables small businesses to invest and expand.”

“Small businesses employ well over half of the private sector workforce. Over the last ten years it has got harder, not easier to run a small business.”

“My colleague, Mark Prisk MP, Shadow Treasury Spokesman, and his team are developing policies which will create simpler and lower business taxes; tackle the regulatory burden and improve the government business support system.”

Notes

Early Day Motion 928:
That this House believes that small and medium-sized businesses are vital to the future of the UK economy; recognises that they generate over half the UK's national wealth and private sector jobs; notes that the twin burdens of regulation and an over-complex tax system have worsened considerably since 1997; further notes the absence of an effective voice for small businesses in Government; regrets that entrepreneurial activity has declined for the last two years; and calls on all Ministers to recognise and include the needs of small businesses in all policy making and implementation.

Adjournment Debate on Small Businesses – 28th March 2007 -

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070328/halltext/70328h0001.htm#07032875000001

House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts Report into "Supporting Small Business" - published on 22 January 2007 -

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmpubacc/262/262.pdf