EMPLOYERS today called for an “all-action” March Budget to boost jobs and economic growth.
In a letter to Chancellor George Osborne, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) urged the Government to focus on three key areas – improving export performance, unleashing domestic investment spending and removing barriers for high-growth firms.
Its Budget wish-list includes creating a new corporate bond market for medium-sized firms to increase the supply of capital; action to speed up the planning system to stimulate infrastructure investment and ways to encourage firms to become more energy efficient by restoring the incentive element of the Carbon Reduction Commitment.
The CBI said the Budget on Wednesday, March 23, should also tackle the tax system, which was discouraging entrepreneurship and undermining UK competitiveness.
CBI director-general John Cridland said: “This Budget must demonstrate a relentless focus on growth to help get the UK working again.
“We need an all-action Budget which boosts exports, investment and jobs.”
He said mid-sized firms needed access to capital so they could expand at home and abroad, while tax changes were needed to encourage talented people to do business in the UK.
