[{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"43978","proposer":"24754","edm":"2873","session":"2010-12","title":"Establishing A Small Business Administration","text":"That this House calls on the Government to recognise the importance of small firms to economic prosperity and to support calls from the Federation of Small Businesses to establish a small business administration within Government to provide a dedicated, specific and independent advocate for small businesses' needs; and urges that this body should be the conduit for all Government decisions related to small business to ensure that the volume and complexity of decisions taken by Government departments would be clearly scrutinised by a dedicated small business unit to ensure that Government decisions and regulations would not be detrimental to the small and medium-size business sector.","date":"2012-03-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"42536","proposer":"24754","edm":"1497","session":"2010-12","title":"Encouraging Entrepreneurship","text":"That this House believes in encouraging entrepreneurship; welcomes recommendations from the Federation of Small Businesses to encourage people to set up their own businesses in the light of high levels of unemployment; and calls on the Government to introduce enterprise zones as a means of generating new businesses and to strengthen the New Enterprise Allowance so that it is available to all potential applicants who want to start up a business as soon as they start claiming jobseeker's allowance.","date":"2011-03-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"42537","proposer":"24754","edm":"1498","session":"2010-12","title":"Tourism And Small Businesses","text":"That this House recognises that the UK's tourism industry contributed over 115 billion to the UK economy in 2009; notes that the Federation of Small Businesses has recently released a report that calls for more to be done to unlock the potential of the sector; believes that responsibility for tourism should be passed from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to the Department for Business, Innnovation and Skills; further believes there is an urgent need to reinstate funding for the promotion of tourism in the regions; and calls for more to be done to make the UK more internationally competitive in comparison to other leading tourism destinations.","date":"2011-03-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"42542","proposer":"24754","edm":"1503","session":"2010-12","title":"Keep Trade Local Campaign","text":"That this House recognises that small businesses are not just part of the local community, but are the local community; further recognises that the UK economy is driven by small businesses; notes that between 50 per cent. and 70 per cent. of money spent in the local economy stays in the local economy; and calls on the Government to support the Federation of Small Businesses' Keep Trade Local campaign, which seeks to stem the tide of business closures on the high street.","date":"2011-03-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"42543","proposer":"10368","edm":"1504","session":"2010-12","title":"Access To Finance For Small Businesses","text":"That this House expresses concern at recent findings from the Federation of Small Businesses that show around 84 per cent. of small businesses are not approaching the banks for credit either because they have already been refused finance or because the cost of finance is too prohibitive; notes that firms that do use the banks as their main source of finance are being penalised by high interest rates at a time when the base rate is at an all time low; and calls on the Government to take steps to change the structure of the banking industry to create competition within the sector and a more stable environment for lending.","date":"2011-03-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"42545","proposer":"24754","edm":"1506","session":"2010-12","title":"Exports And Growth","text":"That this House recognises that the Government has hailed exporting as a potential driver for economic growth; further recognises that exporting offers huge potential for small businesses to grow and that according to a report from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) one quarter of small firms are already exporting; notes that further findings from the FSB show that red tape and bureaucracy are the greatest challenges for small businesses when exporting their products; and calls on the Government to promote effectively the support and Government assistance available to small businesses which want to export.","date":"2011-03-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"42546","proposer":"10368","edm":"1507","session":"2010-12","title":"Job Creation In Small Business","text":"That this House remains concerned at the high level of unemployment, currently at 2.5 million; notes research from the Federation of Small Businesses which shows that 44 per cent. of small firms would take on more staff if the Government cut national insurance; and calls on the Government to extend the national insurance contributions holiday to existing firms to create an environment for job creation and help stem high unemployment.","date":"2011-03-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"42227","proposer":"24763","edm":"1214","session":"2010-12","title":"Taxation Relief And Investors In Social Enterprises","text":"That this House recognises that social enterprises have the proven expertise and dynamism to find business opportunities amid poverty, provide life changing experiences for individuals and communities and deliver quality public services; further recognises that with public spending now contracting, the Government must consider how private investment can be leveraged into funding social enterprise to replace public sector investment; believes that taxation relief for investors in social enterprises is a key means of attracting new inward investment into the UK's social enterprise movement and should therefore not be any less generous than that for other organisations; and calls on the Government to tackle low levels of investor and investee awareness of the existing reliefs, remove restrictions to Community Investment Tax Relief, amend Enterprise Investment Scheme Relief to include companies limited by guarantee and undertake a detailed examination of how progress could be made to ensure that social enterprises can grow and achieve their full potential in the same manner as small private equity-backed companies.","date":"2010-12-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"41372","proposer":"11816","edm":"429","session":"2010-12","title":"Regulations On Small Businesses","text":"That this House notes with concern the lack of information sharing that takes place between Government departments; believes Government departmentsand agencies should share more information to avoid administrative overload on small businesses; furtherbelieves that if a business has already provided Government with a certain piece of information they should not be asked to do so again; and calls on the Government to extend the Osmotherly Agreement so that, after completing a survey for a Government department, businesses with less than 20 employees get a three year break for completing further surveys in the near future.","date":"2010-07-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"40779","proposer":"10534","edm":"1137","session":"2009-10","title":"Supermarkets And Community Investment","text":"That this House is deeply concerned at the monopolistic influence of the major supermarkets and their effect on communities and independent retailers; and calls for a five per cent. tax to be levied on the turnover of supermarkets and for the revenue from this to be made available to local social enterprises, charities and third sector organisations.","date":"2010-03-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"40596","proposer":"11924","edm":"976","session":"2009-10","title":"Regulatory Budgets","text":"That this House is concerned that the Government has postponed a proposed system of regulatory budgets; notes that the cumulative cost of new regulations on business since 1998 is now nearly \u00a377 billion; understands that small businesses spend on average seven hours per week complying with red tape and paperwork and that 30 per cent. of UK businesses believe that it has become more difficult to comply with regulations in the last 12 months; and calls on the Government to introduce a system of regulatory budgets immediately to encourage better regulation and to help minimise the burden on UK businesses during the UK's recovery from recession.","date":"2010-03-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"40587","proposer":"11245","edm":"967","session":"2009-10","title":"Transfer Of Undertakings (Protection Of Employment) Regulations 2006 (S.i., 2006, No. 246)","text":"That this House notes that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (S.I., 2006, No. 246) (TUPE legislation) generates uncertainty in many areas including local authority services contracts; further notes the difficulties experienced by small businesses upon commencement of new contracts where TUPE legislation may require that they hire an existing workforce; congratulates the Government on its action on workers' rights; and calls on the Government and Her Majesty's Opposition to bring forward proposals to clarify and simplify TUPE legislation, with an added emphasis on protecting both workers and small businesses.","date":"2010-03-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"40556","proposer":"10373","edm":"937","session":"2009-10","title":"Voice Of Small Business Annual Survey And Prompt Payment","text":"That this House welcomes the recently published Annual Survey undertaken by the Federation of Small Businesses in conjunction with ICM Research, one of the most comprehensive business surveys since the recession began; but notes with concern that over 30 per cent. of small businesses report late payment for goods and services supplied to central government departments; and calls on the Government to pay invoices to small businesses on time and in keeping with the prompt payment code that it introduced in December 2008.","date":"2010-02-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"40370","proposer":"11823","edm":"777","session":"2009-10","title":"Small Businesses And The Snow","text":"That this House recognises the negative impact that snow can have on small businesses; welcomes the report by the Federation of Small Businesses, Business Continuity-Let's Keep Britain Moving, which contains 14 recommendations to help keep businesses running through periods of adverse weather conditions; and calls on the Government to launch an inquiry to examine its response to heavy snowfall and to investigate further steps that must be taken to Keep Britain Moving in the future.","date":"2010-02-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"40182","proposer":"12005","edm":"603","session":"2009-10","title":"Small Businesses And Cash Transactions","text":"That this House notes the vital contribution that small businesses make to the UK economy and the additional pressures that have recently been placed on small businesses through the recession; further notes that those in sectors dealing with the sale of goods to the general public, which inevitably use cash as a payment method, suffer from excessive charges levied by banks in the provision of cash and change; and calls upon the banking industry to reduce the cost of this vital service to small businesses and in doing so demonstrate real help to the UK's small businesses, which will allow a greater level of economic security for the UK's small business sector.","date":"2010-01-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"39917","proposer":"11489","edm":"357","session":"2009-10","title":"Aberystwyth And Energy Saving","text":"That this House welcomes Aberystwyth Friends of the Earth's campaign for local shops and businesses to turn unnecessary lights and equipment off to save energy; notes the positive reaction from many local businesses to the campaign; acknowledges that energy efficiency is a crucial part of reducing carbon emissions, and that many people making seemingly small changes can make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions; urges hon. Members to turn off unnecessary lights and equipment in their offices; and wishes the campaign every success in persuading people to change their behaviour.","date":"2009-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"39923","proposer":"10063","edm":"363","session":"2009-10","title":"Small Shops In London","text":"That this House recognises the important role small retailers play in communities in London and how they are vital in keeping local high streets successful and diverse; notes that at present small retailers account for 87 per cent. of all retailers in London, but that they have been hit hard by changes in shoppers' behaviour, large supermarkets and the recession; welcomes the Greater London Authority's review into measures designed to support London's local and neighbourhood shops; urges the Government to implement measures that strengthen planning laws to take into account a wider variety of factors than is currently the case, including the use of a local competition test for new retail developments; and calls for new measures which help to create a fairer market place to allow a more balanced relationship between small and large businesses.","date":"2009-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"39500","proposer":"11489","edm":"2239","session":"2008-09","title":"Sustainable Learning Networks In Ireland And Wales","text":"That this House welcomes the establishment of the Sustainable Learning Networks in Ireland and Wales project at Aberystwyth, which seeks to create and develop self-learning networks between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); notes the benefits that can be gained by SMEs by exchanging experiences and sharing innovative practices with other businesses; further notes that participants will receive six months' training on operating self-learning networks, and can provide ongoing feedback; further welcomes the aim of the project to develop sustainable self-learning networks; and expresses the hope that the project will leave a lasting economic legacy in Wales.","date":"2009-11-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"39343","proposer":"11245","edm":"2111","session":"2008-09","title":"Small Business Rate Relief","text":"That this House welcomes the current initiative to provide business rate relief to businesses that occupy a single property or several properties where the rateable values are less than \u00a32,200; but notes that this excludes many important high street businesses which, although relatively small, operate from two or more properties; and therefore calls on the Government to extend small business rate relief to cover enterprises which have a turnover of less than \u00a3500,000 in addition to the current eligibility criteria.","date":"2009-10-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"38918","proposer":"10123","edm":"1364A1","session":"2008-09","title":"Social Enterprises And Social Cohesion","text":"after `enterprises', insert `and local voluntary organisations'.","date":"2009-06-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"38919","proposer":"10123","edm":"1364A2","session":"2008-09","title":"Social Enterprises And Social Cohesion","text":"after `enterprises', insert `and local voluntary organisations'.","date":"2009-06-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"38783","proposer":"10528","edm":"1605","session":"2008-09","title":"Argyll Arcade","text":"That this House condemns the recent attempts by a single individual to claim sole and exclusive rights to the name Argyle Arcade and to profit at the expense of other traders in that shopping mall in Glasgow; recognises that the Argyle Arcade, built in the Victorian era, is Scotland's oldest indoor shopping mall and has supplied, in particular, items of fine jewellery, to several generations of Glaswegians; and further recognises that the owners and traders therein have provided a popular service for over one hundred years often by longstanding, family run firms.","date":"2009-06-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"38687","proposer":"10084","edm":"1517","session":"2008-09","title":"Community Development Finance","text":"That this House recognises that for the last decade the community development finance sector has been an effective way of providing loans and support to small businesses, social enterprises and entrepreneurs in deprived communities; further notes that these community development finance institutions have financed over 24,000 businesses and individuals, created 15,800 jobs and sustained 70,000 more; believes that this sector has the infrastructure and expertise in place quickly to deliver finance directly into the communities most affected by the downturn; and urges the Government to follow the lead set by President Obama in the United States by introducing measures to support these innovative organisations which are helping communities to help themselves out of recession.","date":"2009-05-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"38523","proposer":"11038","edm":"1364","session":"2008-09","title":"Social Enterprises And Social Cohesion","text":"That this House recognises the important role social enterprises have in the promotion of social cohesion and sustainable development within communities, generating substantial social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits; notes the emergence of community benefit contracts which allow public bodies to legally insist on terms that bring extra benefits to disadvantaged communities such as work and training opportunities; and calls on the Government to deliver guidance for procurement officers on the use of community benefit clauses, demonstrating how social enterprises deliver added social value.","date":"2009-04-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"38333","proposer":"11093","edm":"1212","session":"2008-09","title":"Save Our High Streets Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the Daily Mirror and Federation of Small Businesses' Campaign to Save Our High Streets which calls for monthly instead of quarterly rents to ease bills, the abolition of upward only rent reviews, and measures to force banks to lend to small business firms again; believes that local town centres are the lifeblood of the local community, providing jobs, services and entertainment; and calls on the Government to work with partners to save the UK's high streets and help communities through this difficult period.","date":"2009-03-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"38321","proposer":"10677","edm":"1200","session":"2008-09","title":"Small Businesses In Hampshire","text":"That this House notes the pressure that the present economic downturn is placing on small businesses in Southampton and Hampshire; believes that local businesses rely on residents to support their local shops and to buy local goods when possible; supports proposals to aid small businesses across the UK, such as the introduction of automatic payments to those businesses eligible for small business rate relief; supports the efforts of the Federation of Small Business, the Rural Shops Alliance and others in highlighting the needs of their industries in the downturn; congratulates the Southern Daily Echo on its Buy Local Shop Local campaign to encourage communities to pull together in support of local traders; and calls on the Government to ensure everything possible is done to help small businesses during the economic downturn.","date":"2009-03-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"38234","proposer":"11607","edm":"1122","session":"2008-09","title":"Work Of Roger Harvey Obe","text":"That this House congratulates Roger Harvey OBE, Chairman of Harvey's department store in Halifax for his work; notes the contribution that both Roger and Harvey's store have made to the community; further congratulates Roger Harvey on the awarding of his OBE; further notes that he is an inspiration to community businessmen across the country and in the Calderdale community; and congratulates Harvey's staff for their continuing efforts despite the current economic situation.","date":"2009-03-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"37795","proposer":"10614","edm":"740","session":"2008-09","title":"Leicester Mercury Support Your County Campaign","text":"That this House warmly welcomes the Leicester Mercury Support your County campaign to encourage people to buy local products from local traders; appreciates the vast range of regional products available in the Leicestershire region; recognises that during the present tough economic climate, it is more important than ever to support small, independent businesses; congratulates the Leicester Mercury on raising awareness of the issue and highlighting the importance of supporting local businesses; and encourages other counties and newspapers to launch similar campaigns which will boost the local economy.","date":"2009-02-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"37727","proposer":"10373","edm":"676","session":"2008-09","title":"Automatic Rate Relief For Small Businesses","text":"That this House notes with concern that business rate relief is not taken up by over half of those small businesses eligible to claim it; further notes that as a result small businesses are losing out on saving up to \u00c2\u00a32,500 yearly; further notes that across the country around \u00c2\u00a3400 million earmarked for rate relief to be paid to small businesses is returned to the Treasury; and calls on the Government to support the Small Business Rate Relief (Automatic Payment) Bill.","date":"2009-02-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"37625","proposer":"11245","edm":"591","session":"2008-09","title":"Small Business Rates","text":"That this House notes that the Government announced a small business rate increase for 2009 of 5.02 per cent. to reflect inflation, while the standard national non-domestic rate was increased by 4.97 per cent., thereby making small businesses pay a higher rate for what is their third highest business cost after salaries and rent; further notes the Government gave local councils 2.5 per cent. to reflect inflation for the same period; further notes that small businesses are the engine of our economy and will need to create jobs as the UK moves towards recovery; and therefore calls on the Government to review its policies regarding small businesses and to reduce their taxes and costs.","date":"2009-01-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"37517","proposer":"10190","edm":"493","session":"2008-09","title":"Small Businesses","text":"That this House notes with regret that Kaydee's Bookshop, an award-winning bookshop in Clitheroe, is closing after 60 years due to the current economic climate; realises that there will be nine job losses as a consequence; recognises that the closure is symptomatic of current economic policy and that small and medium-sized businesses are closing across the UK; and calls on the Government to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses get the support that both need and deserve in order that they may survive the recession.","date":"2009-01-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"37184","proposer":"11923","edm":"190","session":"2008-09","title":"Pubcos And The Supply Tie","text":"That this House notes that the Beer Orders, passed in 1989, were intended to increase competition in brewing, wholesaling and retailing; believes however that they have failed to do this, and have instead concentrated ownership of British pubs in the hands of pub companies or Pubcos; further notes that in 1989 the three biggest brewers owned around 20,000 pubs, about a third of the UK's total, and that the three biggest Pubcos own around 20,000 pubs, a notably similar figure; further notes that pubs are closing at the rate of around 36 pubs a week and that from 2006-07 bankruptcies amongst pub landlords increased seven-fold and are set to get worse; notes with concern that Pubcos have failed to adopt the recommendations of the Trade and Industry Select Committee, namely that rents should be sustainable; further notes that tied tenants should not be financially worse off than if they were free of tie, that upward-only rent reviews and the gaming machine tie must cease, and that the utmost transparency in all rents and reviews is paramount; and calls on the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to refer the matter of the supply tie and rent formulation to the Competition Commission with a view to addressing the dominance of the big Pubcos in the pub market.","date":"2008-12-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"37187","proposer":"11823","edm":"193","session":"2008-09","title":"Bank Lending To Small Businesses","text":"That this House shares the grave concerns of the Federation of Small Businesses that 60 small businesses are closing down each day, that 31 per cent. of small businesses have seen the cost of their existing finance increase, that 54 per cent. of small businesses have not seen an increase in the availability of new credit, that at any one time each small business is owed \u00c2\u00a330,000 in late payments, and that as a result 30 per cent. of small businesses would consider closing down if their situation did not improve; and calls on the Government to take action to ensure banks give small businesses access to affordable finance with no hidden costs in order better to safeguard the nation's 4.7 million small businesses and their employees.","date":"2008-12-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"37204","proposer":"11513","edm":"210","session":"2008-09","title":"Western Morning News Think Local Campaign","text":"That this House notes the pressure that the present economic downturn is putting on small businesses in Cornwall and Devon; believes that local businesses rely on residents to think local and buy local; welcomes measures to delay small businesses' tax payments to HM Revenue and Customs; calls on the Government to ensure everything possible is done to help small business during the economic downturn; supports the efforts of the Federation of Small Business, Rural Shops Alliance, Taste of the West and others in highlighting the needs of their industries in the downturn; and congratulates the Western Morning News on its Think Local campaign to encourage communities to pull together in support of local traders.","date":"2008-12-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"37099","proposer":"10097","edm":"107","session":"2008-09","title":"KEEP TRADE LOCAL CAMPAIGN AND HON. MEMBERS' CHRISTMAS DINNERS","text":"That this House congratulates the Federation of Small Businesses on their Keep Trade Local campaign; notes that local high streets are increasingly under threat with 2,000 local shops closing each year; believes small businesses form an essential part of local communities and economies; and calls on hon. Members to source their Christmas dinners from small independent retailers in their constituencies in order to support local businesses at this time of economic difficulty.","date":"2008-12-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"37002","proposer":"10521","edm":"10","session":"2008-09","title":"Campaign To Save The Great British Pub","text":"That this House is alarmed that five public houses are closing down every day, with beer sales in pubs at their lowest level for nearly 40 years; is deeply concerned as to the future of 7,500 public houses and more than 40,000 jobs; supports the launch of a campaign to mobilise public and political support to save the Great British Pub; believes that traditional public houses are being unfairly priced out of the market while supermarkets offer cheap deals without the level of restrictions and responsibilities required of licencees of public houses; further supports the beer industry and The Campaign for Real Ale's Axe the Beer Tax, Save the Pub campaign which states that tax rises in the Pre-Budget Report, and further planned increases in tax, will place traditional public houses at even greater risk of closing down; and calls on the Government to adopt the campaign's Last Orders, a five-point plan to save the British pub, as a way forward in safeguarding the future of Britain's traditional public houses.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"36780","proposer":"11742","edm":"2391","session":"2007-08","title":"Small Companies Rate Of Corporation Tax","text":"That this House recognises that small businesses across the United Kingdom provide employment to 13 million workers and are facing difficult financial pressures due to the economic downturn; and asks the Government to reconsider its plans for a further 1 per cent. rise in the small companies rate of corporation tax announced in Budget 2007 to take effect from April 2009.","date":"2008-10-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"36760","proposer":"10477","edm":"2373","session":"2007-08","title":"Government Policy On Business Rates","text":"That this House expresses concern at the damaging effect of the Prime Minister's \u00c2\u00a31 billion a year stealth tax hike on empty properties; notes that this will particularly harm local firms in an economic downturn; criticises the Government's plans to impose supplementary business rates on local business with no ability for firms to endorse or reject the rate; questions why transitional rate relief will not apply to supplementary rates; observes the burden on small firms of having to claim small business rate relief, while medium and large firms are automatically hit with a higher multiplier; is concerned by the actions of the Valuation Office Agency for its retrospective tax increases on ports; and believes that the Government's business rates policies are harming the economic viability of British business.","date":"2008-10-29","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"36655","proposer":"11522","edm":"2287","session":"2007-08","title":"Kaupthing, Singer And Friedlander","text":"That this House expresses its concern for the ability of small businesses with funds suspended in Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander to continue to operate, with the consequence that jobs are at risk; and also expresses concern on behalf of constituents who have raised concerns with hon. Members about the safety of their funds held with Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander (Isle of Man) Limited.","date":"2008-10-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"36606","proposer":"11823","edm":"2256","session":"2007-08","title":"Banks And Small Businesses","text":"That this House deplores the actions of some banks in withdrawing crucial credit lines from small businesses despite having been bailed out themselves by taxpayers; and calls on the Government to ensure, as a condition of receiving help, that the banks in turn help their customers, and especially small businesses which are the lifeblood of the economy.","date":"2008-10-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"36317","proposer":"11480","edm":"1985","session":"2007-08","title":"Sharing The Benefits Of The Olympics","text":"That this House warmly welcomes the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; believes that the financial benefits of the Games should be shared across the whole of the UK; is concerned that a disproportionately low number of private contracts have been awarded by the Olympic Development Agency to companies based outside London and the South East; notes that over \u00c2\u00a32 billion out of the \u00c2\u00a36 billion worth of private contracts have already been awarded; recommends that all businesses look at the 2012 website for potential opportunities; and urges the bodies responsible for awarding Olympic contracts to do everything possible to ensure a more equitable sharing across all the nations and regions of the UK.","date":"2008-07-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"36270","proposer":"11656","edm":"1947","session":"2007-08","title":"London Jewellery Week","text":"That this House congratulates the City Fringe Partnership, the economic development partnership, for its successful organisation of the Coutts London Jewellery Week, the first event to recognise London's position as a world centre for jewellery retail, design and manufacturing and the economic importance of the industry to the capital; acknowledges the importance of harnessing commercial expertise to encourage entrepreneurship and enterprise as a means of creating job opportunities, supporting the development of a thriving small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) sector, and promoting opportunity and achievement in deprived areas across the country; and urges continued support from the Government, the London Development Agency and Parliamentarians for the City Fringe Partnership and similar organisations as they continue to provide vital business support to SMEs and skills and access to jobs for individuals in some of the country's most deprived communities.","date":"2008-07-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"36225","proposer":"10176","edm":"1904","session":"2007-08","title":"Small Shops And Restrictions On Point Of Sale Displays Of Tobacco Products","text":"That this House acknowledges the hard work of small and independent retailers; congratulates them on the vital role they play in the many diverse communities across the country; recognises the ever-present economic and commercial pressures threatening their viability and survival and is concerned that the regulatory burden placed upon them should be maintained at an appropriate level; expresses its concern that any new measures to restrict the display of tobacco products in small shops should be balanced, proportionate and firmly evidence-based; and calls upon the Government to commit to open, full and genuine consultation with all affected and interested parties to examine the effect of any such proposals on the viability of small shops, the market in illicit tobacco and the impact on competition; further welcomes Government action to address illegal sales of tobacco; and urges the Government to continue to pursue the most effective and proven measures by which under-18s can be deterred from smoking.","date":"2008-06-25","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"36003","proposer":"10190","edm":"1717","session":"2007-08","title":"Commission For Rural Communities Report","text":"That this House notes the recent report of the Commission for Rural Communities; further notes that Stuart Burgess, the chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities, has said that rural areas have up to \u00c2\u00a3347 billion a year of untapped potential; regrets that rural communities are often marginalised by the Government which has led to the decline of the importance of villages; and calls on the Government to implement the findings of the report, namely to install an economic minister to oversee support of rural economies, a rural summit to pursue local business, a rural finance forum to tap into private and public money and a rural innovation initiative to encourage entrepreneurs and ensure access to resources such as broadband.","date":"2008-06-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"35995","proposer":"11923","edm":"1709","session":"2007-08","title":"NATIONAL INDEPENDENT TRADERS' WEEK","text":"That this House celebrates National Independent Traders' Week, which runs from 2nd until 8th June 2008; recognises the need to support independent businesses, especially those which have to contend with the threat posed by supermarkets; notes that supporting independent traders boosts local economies and enhances community; and calls on local and national government to support independent traders wherever possible.","date":"2008-06-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"35602","proposer":"10492","edm":"1358","session":"2007-08","title":"Crime Against Small Businesses","text":"That this House is alarmed that 20 per cent. of recorded crime is committed against the many companies which play such an important part in sustaining local communities; calls on police and local authorities to give high priority to reducing such crime and to fully reflect this priority in all policing plans, crime reduction partnerships, local area agreements and strategic partnerships; and notes the support of the Association of Chief Police Officers for the Federation of Small Businesses' campaign to encourage businesses to report Every Crime Every Time rather than the 40 per cent. currently reported.","date":"2008-04-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"35469","proposer":"10552","edm":"1195A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Income Shifting And The Future Of Small Business Taxation","text":"leave out from `partnerships;' to end and add `commends the Government for recognising that the initial proposals had serious flaws and for taking the time to consult further; calls on HM Treasury to recognise that profits from a business do not simply represent remuneration for labour, but are a reward for taking risk; urges the Government to drop the proposals altogether if the forthcoming round of consultation shows that they ultimately cannot be made to work; and suggests that a thorough reconsideration of the basis on which small businesses are taxed, in full consultation with all affected groups, may be a more appropriate course of action.'.","date":"2008-03-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"35421","proposer":"10177","edm":"1195","session":"2007-08","title":"Income Shifting And The Future Of Small Business Taxation","text":"That this House welcomes the decision announced in the Budget to defer legislation on what has been described as income shifting within small limited companies and partnerships; and calls on HM Treasury and other affected departments to use the additional year that they have allowed themselves for consultation on this issue to undertake a thorough review of more appropriate means of providing smaller enterprises with a suitable legal entity designed for use in the 21st century, and not the 19th century as the limited company was, that will simultaneously reduce the taxation, accounting and regulatory burdens on smaller enterprises, so freeing them to generate wealth and employment in the UK economy, whilst ensuring that they can with minimum effort comply with the taxation and other requirements imposed upon them by law in a way that minimises risk of tax avoidance, creates a level playing field in which all in the sector can compete fairly and ensures that the right person is taxed on the reward they have earned at the right time and in ways which do not create artificial and inappropriate incentives to recategorise employment as self-employment, and the reward for labour effort expended as investment income.","date":"2008-03-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34836","proposer":"12005","edm":"681","session":"2007-08","title":"Small Businesses And Cash Transactions","text":"That this House notes the vital contribution that small businesses make to the UK economy; further notes that those in sectors dealing with the sale of goods to the general public, which inevitably use cash as a payment method, suffer from excessive charges levied by banks in the provision of cash and change; and calls upon the banking industry to reduce the cost of this vital service to small business and in doing so to allow a greater level of economic security for the UK's small business sector.","date":"2008-01-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34782","proposer":"10521","edm":"629","session":"2007-08","title":"Shop Local Campaign","text":"That this House congratulates the East Anglian Daily Times on its Shop Local Campaign; notes that it has already attracted the support of more than 150 shops and other businesses representing a wide cross-section of traders in Essex and Suffolk; welcomes the promotion of the importance of local growers, producers, retailers and other businesses to the well-being of the local economy, and for their survival and prosperity in the face of the growing dominance of national companies and with it the creeping advance of clone town Britain with the loss of distinctive local identities; recognises that if local businesses are successful, then local economies thrive, creating the conditions to nurture more new businesses and create more jobs; urges other communities across the country to establish their own campaigns using the shop local concept promoted by the East Anglian Daily Times; and calls on the Government to introduce measures which support and stimulate local businesses and the interests of local economies.","date":"2008-01-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34766","proposer":"10620","edm":"613","session":"2007-08","title":"Racecourse Bookmakers","text":"That this House is deeply concerned that hundreds of racecourse bookmakers across the UK will be financially ruined if racecourses refuse to recognise on-course bookmakers' list positions, as has been unintentionally facilitated by the Gambling Act 2005; notes that over \u00c2\u00a390 million has been spent by on-course bookmakers for their list positions since the introduction of the trading system in 1998; recognises that many bookmakers are small family-run affairs and rely on the equity ownership of these racecourse list positions to provide them with retirement security for themselves and their families; calls upon the Racecourse Association to reconsider its stated position that list positions will have no value in future and that it cannot in any way accept the arguments about security of tenure; and failing that, calls upon the Government to review the Gambling Act 2005 and consider necessary amendments to bring an end to the dispute between the Racecourse Association and Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers and its members in order to secure the livelihoods and assets purchased by those affected.","date":"2007-12-18","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34706","proposer":"10780","edm":"563","session":"2007-08","title":"Local Booksellers","text":"That this House notes the continuing decline throughout the UK in the numbers of independently-owned book retailers; and is concerned for future generations, who, unless urgent action is taken by government, increasingly will be faced with only best selling titles being stocked by supermarkets and multiple stores, resulting in a substantial loss of quality local publications being made available to the reading public.","date":"2007-12-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34691","proposer":"10045","edm":"550","session":"2007-08","title":"Out Of Town Shopping Centres","text":"That this House is concerned by proposals from the Competition Commission in its Provisional Findings report to weaken planning policy and planning policy statements in relation to town centres to allow for more supermarkets to be built on the edge of towns and in out of town locations; notes that the majority of supermarkets are already being built in out of town centres; notes that many independent smaller shops are closing each year and reducing people's choice of where to shop; believes that a weakening of policy in this way would allow all types of retail to locate out of town leading to an increase in car-based shopping and related climate change emissions; further believes that there will be a disproportionate effect on households without cars if more local shops are lost; and calls on the Government to retain key existing tests such as need, accessibility and scale and to strengthen, rather than weaken, planning policy for town centres by also introducing a presumption against out of town retail development and new tests for diversity, local economic impact and carbon emissions.","date":"2007-12-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34660","proposer":"11589","edm":"520","session":"2007-08","title":"Supermarkets And Alcoholic Loss Leaders","text":"That this House notes the Competition Authority's Groceries Market Provisional Findings report and the surprising finding that loss leaders are not directed at or detrimental to smaller retailers; recalls that its previous Emerging Findings report had stated that alcohol was one of two main product groups in which supermarkets engage in below cost selling; expresses surprise that the British Retail Consortium holds there is no evidence to link pricing and binge drinking; agrees with the Royal College of Physicians that the two major factors affecting alcohol consumption are price and availability; is concerned at the Chief Medical Officer's finding that annual mortality rates from chronic liver disease rose by 466 per cent. from 1970 to 2000; further notes the British Retail Consortium's claim that less than one per cent. of all supermarket purchases are of alcohol alone; believes below-cost alcohol selling increases consumption amongst vulnerable drinkers and young people; urges supermarkets to agree a code of practice to require a minimum non-alcohol shop spend in order to purchase discounted alcohol; calls upon the Secretaries of State for Health and for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, with relevant bodies, to encourage such agreement and to keep its effectiveness under review; welcomes the commitment by the Prime Minister on 28th November that government will bring forward a paper on issues around alcohol selling; and is minded to support legislation to end stand-alone alcohol sales by supermarkets should that sector not adopt effective restraining measures.","date":"2007-12-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34590","proposer":"11032","edm":"457","session":"2007-08","title":"Eastern Daily Press Shop Here Campaign","text":"That this House supports the Eastern Daily Press Shop Here campaign; recognises the aim of retaining local shops and post offices, particularly in rural areas; recognises the importance of local businesses in terms of sustainability, the vitality of the local economy and retaining diversity; recognises the very real threat to local shops due to the power of supermarkets and other multiple stores; applauds the passing of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, with all-party support; and calls on the Government to ensure that policy development supports the objectives of this campaign.","date":"2007-12-03","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34503","proposer":"10179","edm":"382","session":"2007-08","title":"Delays To VAT Registration","text":"That this House notes that the current delay of up to four months for VAT registration is causing considerable problems to a number of businesses due to suppliers being unable to provide credit, imported goods being unable to be cleared and business customers refusing to pay invoices without VAT registration; further notes that the Government has said how important growing businesses are to the UK economy; is concerned to note that it is small firms who will continue to suffer without prompt and swift action; and calls upon the Government to resolve the computer and management failings at HM Revenue and Customs as quickly as possible.","date":"2007-11-26","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34394","proposer":"11823","edm":"283","session":"2007-08","title":"Capital Gains Tax (No. 2)","text":"That this House condemns the lack of Government consultation with small business on the proposed reform to capital gains tax; and considers that such charges disproportionately penalise small businesses and that the reintroduction of retirement relief should be considered for small business owners.","date":"2007-11-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34400","proposer":"11742","edm":"289","session":"2007-08","title":"Independent Retail Shops","text":"That this House notes with concern the decrease in the number of independent shops in town high streets; calls for the reinvigoration of the diversity and character of those high streets; further calls for well thought-out parking policies, coupled with sensible administration of those policies to help regenerate towns; recognises that crime against business makes up 20 per cent. of recorded crime and needs further addressing; further recognises the need to ensure that small businesses are helped to compete fairly with larger more established stores; and urges local authorities and central government to help in that objective.","date":"2007-11-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Small businesses","id":"34144","proposer":"10179","edm":"54","session":"2007-08","title":"Capital Gains Tax","text":"That this House believes the 80 per cent. increase in capital gains tax (CGT) for business demonstrates the Government's lack of understanding of the business community and puts the United Kingdom at a competitive disadvantage against other comparable industrialised countries; notes that 76 per cent. of business leaders lack confidence in the Chancellor; recognises that small businesses are increasingly seeing the tax burden rest disproportionately upon them; expresses concern that the UK now has the longest tax code in the world; and calls on the Chancellor to reverse the rise in the small business corporation tax set out in the Budget, meeting the cost by scrapping the complex system of allowances also proposed, and reverse the proposed rise in CGT.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"}]