ACS Urges Brown to Help Local Shop Investment
13 Mar 2007
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is urging the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, to put in place the policies and measures that help local shops to invest, grow and compete when he presents the Budget on 21 March.
In advance of the budget ACS is calling on the Chancellor to tackle head on the burden of tax and employment regulation, and curb any further tax grab against duty paid products such as alcohol, tobacco and fuel.
Small and medium-sized businesses are vital to the future of the UK economy and ACS believes this is the ideal opportunity from the Chancellor to show his commitment to the future of a diverse grocery market in the UK.
James Lowman, ACS Chief Executive, said: “This is the Chancellor’s final opportunity to reduce the burdens on small businesses. Retailers are spending more and more of their time on form-filling at a time they need to be in their shops. Increasing regulation such as the recent rise in the National Minimum Wage and the forthcoming compulsory employer pension contribution, are all added costs and concerns for retailers. It will be disappointing if the Budget does not include measures to reduce business taxes and improve rate relief.
“Mr Brown must resist the temptation to increase duty rates on tobacco and alcohol, even in keeping with inflation, as this only encourages bootleggers, to the detriment of UK businesses. Every penny that duty increases creates more opportunity for the organised illegal trade to take away business from legitimate regulated UK retailers.”
Mr Lowman continued, "We would like to see some real commitment and investment by the Chancellor in promoting local shops that trade at the centre of the community.”
Contact:
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Michael Saxton/ Grappa PR
Julie Kirby 020 7 4864448
Notes:
1. ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2. In 2006 the Chancellor increased duty on a pint of beer by 1p, 4p on a bottle of wine and 9p on a pack of 20 cigarettes.
3. In 2005 duty rose by 1p on a pint of beer, 4p on a bottle of wine and 7p on a pack of 20 cigarettes.
In advance of the budget ACS is calling on the Chancellor to tackle head on the burden of tax and employment regulation, and curb any further tax grab against duty paid products such as alcohol, tobacco and fuel.
Small and medium-sized businesses are vital to the future of the UK economy and ACS believes this is the ideal opportunity from the Chancellor to show his commitment to the future of a diverse grocery market in the UK.
James Lowman, ACS Chief Executive, said: “This is the Chancellor’s final opportunity to reduce the burdens on small businesses. Retailers are spending more and more of their time on form-filling at a time they need to be in their shops. Increasing regulation such as the recent rise in the National Minimum Wage and the forthcoming compulsory employer pension contribution, are all added costs and concerns for retailers. It will be disappointing if the Budget does not include measures to reduce business taxes and improve rate relief.
“Mr Brown must resist the temptation to increase duty rates on tobacco and alcohol, even in keeping with inflation, as this only encourages bootleggers, to the detriment of UK businesses. Every penny that duty increases creates more opportunity for the organised illegal trade to take away business from legitimate regulated UK retailers.”
Mr Lowman continued, "We would like to see some real commitment and investment by the Chancellor in promoting local shops that trade at the centre of the community.”
Contact:
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Michael Saxton/ Grappa PR
Julie Kirby 020 7 4864448
Notes:
1. ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2. In 2006 the Chancellor increased duty on a pint of beer by 1p, 4p on a bottle of wine and 9p on a pack of 20 cigarettes.
3. In 2005 duty rose by 1p on a pint of beer, 4p on a bottle of wine and 7p on a pack of 20 cigarettes.