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FSB tells Chancellor to lay off small firms

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged the government to go easy on small businesses in the forthcoming 2008 Budget. The small business lobby group said called on the Alistair Darling to make allowances and claimed ‘small business confidence in the government is at its lowest ebb’.

The FSB has also reiterated its concerns about the government’s “disjointed and inconsistent” approach to the taxation of small businesses.

In its annual submission to the Treasury on behalf of its 210,000 members the FSB recommends action is taken to curb the proposed fuel rise charge to be levied at small businesses. The document also criticises proposed changes to the tax arrangements of family firms, which the FSB describes as a “Draconian attack”.

John Wright, FSB’s national chairman, said: “This year has already begun with the threat of a recession which is difficult enough for small businesses to deal with, without having to contend with more obstacles put in the way by the government.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .