BUSINESS leaders in Kirklees have repeated call for Government action following a survey showing local firms face a “long hard slog” to overcome economic uncertainties.

The Lockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce said further measures were needed in addition to the action outlined in the Autumn Statement to help exporters and manufacturers.

It also urged the Government to cancel all or part of a 5.6% rise in business rates scheduled for April and make employers’ national insurance breaks available in all regions and to a wider range of businesses in order to encourage companies to employ people rather than penalise them for doing so..

The call follows the chamber’s fourth quarter economic survey conducted among member firms in Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield.

The survey showed a decline in export sales and orders and said cashflow pressures remained an issue.

It said confidence levels remained uncertain while inflation and exchange rates were the major worries affecting businesses.

Chamber members argued that the slowdown in the domestic economy combined with turmoil in overseas trading and currency markets demanded further action by the coalition to reinvigorate business conditions, encourage investment, increase confidence and provide incentives to businesses to enable them to spearhead the UK’s economic recovery.

They said very difficult policy decisions had to be taken soon to re-balance the economy in favour of manufacturing and exports as a means of achieving economic recovery.

Chamber policy head Steven Leigh said: “This survey comes at the end of what has been a difficult and disappointing year for business and illustrates the ongoing problems being faced by companies.”