BCC response to Queen’s Speech

Thirteen new Bills have been published today in the Queen’s Speech. Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), David Frost, said:

“This is the first Queen’s Speech during a recession for over a decade, yet there is little medicine for the economy.

“The Government has today brought forward proposals which will cost businesses time by imposing new employment legislation and money by hitting them with a business rate supplement.”

Ends

Media Contacts:

Fiona Cunningham
Tel: 020 7654 5812
Email: f.cunningham@britishchambers.org.uk

OR

Sam Turvey
Tel: 020 7654 5813
Email: s.turvey@britishchambers.org.uk

Notes to Editors:  

Flexible working legislation

This is not the time for employment legislation. Employers are keen to keep good staff and most already offer flexible working. But during this time of downturn they are more concerned with simply holding on to employees
 

Equality Bill

We do not accept engineering social equality through the tendering process for public contracts.

The original intention was that this Bill would simplify procurement. However, this could end up being a bureaucratic nightmare for small businesses.

Welfare Reform Bill

The longer Government allows the current culture of welfare dependency to prevail, the worse off our economy will be.

We have to train those on benefits and incentivise people to go back into work. The Gregg Review's proposals offer a means of achieving this.
 

Business Rates Supplement Bill

As companies are struggling to survive, it cannot be right that they face the possible combination of Local Authorities establishing new Business Rate Supplements, Community Infrastructure Levies, congestion charging and Workplace Parking Levies. The unpredictable burden of these taxes and charges should be cut with greater clarity and accountability brought in.
 

If, however, Local Authorities are to be given the flexibility to introduce a supplement, any proposal must be an infrastructure project that business believes is necessary, with a clear project plan, ring-fenced, additional funds, ongoing business oversight of the initiative and a mandatory business vote.   We are also concerned about the impact the lack of a national offset for Business Improvement District levies will have on the future of these projects.

Children, Skills and Learning Bill

Apprenticeships

We believe that apprenticeships should be a mainstream educational option for young people, and that a greater number of apprenticeships places should be created. The establishment of a statutory basis for apprenticeships will help prevent the government from meddling with the apprenticeship brand as they have done in the past.

Apprenticeships should be employer led, offer real progression routes for apprentices, whether that be onto development in the workplace, or further and higher education, and be rigorous enough to enjoy parity of esteem with other learning routes.

Time to Train

Departmental time would be better spent on other pressing issues in the skills agenda, especially in reducing red tape and managing the problems associated with the constant organisational changes in post-19 education.

Machinery of Government changes

The government’s planned abolition of the LSC and replacement with a number of new agencies for the sake of organisational efficiency is bizarre. While there are problems with the LSC, the government itself acknowledges that it has met all its targets.

Time should be spent on improving and reforming the existing structures rather than creating new ones. Too much management time and effort will be drawn into overseeing the changes and distracted from tackling the underlying problems.