‘Chancellor must increase support for local businesses’ – Ritchie
SDLP MP for South Down Margaret Ritchie has challenged the UK Chancellor to provide more support for local businesses that face increased red tape over VAT accounting for imports.
Speaking from the House of Commons Ritchie stated, “The UK Chancellor has made a virtue of claiming to be supporting small and medium sized businesses.
“However, no attempt seems to have been made to review the current approval criteria to create a simplified import VAT accounting scheme.
“I am regularly told by local business people that the current arrangements are a major impediment for imports and that there is the need for urgent reform.
“It was worrying that the Chancellor did not seem to be aware of this problem and I eagerly await his letter in response to my question.
Ritchie added, “The Chancellor may think he has ended the recession but that is not the message I am getting from local businesses who are crying out for more measures to encourage growth.”
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