...TO SORT OUT UK BUSINESS CLIMATE
The boss of the UK's £60 billion chemical and pharmaceutical industry today urged the Chancellor to establish manufacturing at the heart of the UK's economic recovery by addressing in his first budget the UK's increasingly uncompetitive taxation and regulatory climate for doing business.
In a speech to business leaders in the sector, Steve Elliott Chief Executive of the Chemical Industries Association said "my message to the Coalition Government is simple: the chemical and pharmaceutical industry - contributing over £30million every day to the UK balance of trade - must be at the heart of their plans to rebalance the economy. If we are all in this together - as I believe we are - then our industry's economic contribution, high quality skill base, commitment to innovation and unique ability to deliver a low carbon future all needs to be freed from the shackles of an increasingly complex and uncompetitive climate for doing business. Nowhere is this more evident than in the energy and climate change arena where well-meaning intentions regarding security of supply and emissions reduction are in sharp contrast to the cumulative impact of related policy measures on energy prices that we see running ahead of our competitors' costs.
The Chancellor clearly has little room for manoeuvre in this budget but, looking ahead, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry is keen to play its part in ensuring that future budgets offer more positive signals to the business community, to UK citizens and to the country at large.
The full CIA Submission to the 22 June Emergency budget can be found at: http://www.cia.org.uk/newsRoom.php?id=97
Notes to Editors
1. The Chemical Industries Association is the organisation that represents chemical and pharmaceutical businesses throughout the UK www.cia.org.uk
2. The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers his first Budget statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday June 22
3. Steve Elliott will be available for comment/interview following the budget. Please contact Simon Marsh on 07951 389197
Contact Name: Fiona Ferguson