The letter reads: “As we approach the government’s first 100 days in office I thought I’d let your readers know what the coalition has done to reverse the [...]]]> MP for Beverley and Holderness, Graham Stuart, has written to newspapers in the East Riding outlining the work the new Government has done to promote and protect business.

The letter reads: “As we approach the government’s first 100 days in office I thought I’d let your readers know what the coalition has done to reverse the rise in unemployment left by Labour particularly by support for smaller businesses.

“First off we’ve moved to stop tax rises on small and medium sized (SME) businesses.

“The previous Government wanted to hit SMEs with a tax hike on both the small profits rate and National Insurance Contributions (NICs). Instead this Government will reduce the small profits rate to 20%, instead of the last Government’s planned increase to 22%, from April 2011 and reverse the planned increase in National Insurance Contributions.

“Indeed the threshold for employer NICs will rise by £21, above indexation. This will increase the number of employees for whom employers pay no NICs by 650,000.

“Finally there will be a review of small business taxation, including IR35 regulations, to create a simpler, more predictable tax regime.

“Red tape and over regulation will also be peeled away to allow business to flourish. The most obvious way this will be done is by introducing a system of regulation control whereby Ministers must first show how they will reduce the existing burden of regulation before bringing forward new regulations.

“Alongside this will be a review of all regulations the last Government scheduled for introduction over the coming year.

“There will be help for new firms. For the next three years new businesses in Yorkshire will not have to pay the first £5,000 of class 1 national insurance contributions in the first year that they employ someone. This will encourage new jobs and new businesses.

“Rules will also be relaxed to allow social tenants to start their own businesses at home.

“There will be better access to funding with the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) increased by £200 million to support £700 million of additional lending until 31 March 2011.

“And a Growth Capital Fund is being created to support established businesses wanting to invest for the future.

“Together these measures represent positive action which will help the bottom line of small and medium-sized businesses across the country and across Yorkshire.

“Despite the disastrous inheritance left by Labour even the first 100 days have seen positive action to get Britain working again and make sure more people in Yorkshire have a job and a positive future.”

 The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, Alistair Burt MP, responding to constituents concerns, raised by Graham, said there was ‘no suggestion’ the spill reflected badly on British [...]]]> BP should remain a ‘strong and viable’ company despite the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, MP for Beverley and Holderness has been told by Government.

 The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, Alistair Burt MP, responding to constituents concerns, raised by Graham, said there was ‘no suggestion’ the spill reflected badly on British business.

Graham has been approached by several constituents who feared the impact of the disaster would affect their pensions as the BP share price fell.

 He said: “The explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig on April 20 and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a human and environmental tragedy.

 “The US authorities and BP continue to do all they can to stop the leak and clean up the oil. And the Minister has told me the UK Government has been in close contact with the US Government and BP throughout and has offered assistance.”

 He added David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has discussed the situation and its effect on BP share prices with President Obama on several occasions.

 The letter from the Minister said: “The President made clear that there was no suggestion that this disaster reflected badly on the UK or British business and that the UK/US relationship remained strong. They agreed that BP was a strong and viable company and that it was in all of our interests that it remained so.”

 Graham added: “I can fully understand the fears some of my constituents have about the state of the BP share price.

 “I hope this answer from the Minister give my constituents some comfort. I will be keeping a close eye on developments and will take any future concerns to the Government should the need arise.”

Arcade owners have contacted Graham following the emergency budget in which it was announced VAT would rise to 20%. This comes on top of an already difficult period for arcades as they have [...]]]> Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, is asking for HM Treasury to throw a life-line to amusements arcades in Hornsea and Withernsea. 

Arcade owners have contacted Graham following the emergency budget in which it was announced VAT would rise to 20%. This comes on top of an already difficult period for arcades as they have been hit by rising gambling taxes.

 Graham said: “Arcades are an important part of the offer of a seaside town. We have fantastic beaches, fishing, wildlife and other attractions but any family spending time on the coast may also want to enjoy the fun of the arcade.

 “The arcades do not just have fruit machines; they provide a number of other family activities such as bowling alleys, skittles, and children’s play parks.  They are the lifeblood of a seaside town and employ many people.”

 He said the impending increase in VAT, added to previous tax rises under the last government could see the loss of more of these family businesses with knock on effects to other local businesses and jobs. 

 Graham added: “I have written to urge HM Treasury to consider abolishing Amusement Machine Licence Duty for seaside amusement arcades, perhaps with a limit on the number of machines. Withernsea and Hornsea need their arcades and we all need to get behind them and make sure that they are profitable and can invest. Otherwise it’s not just the arcades but the whole towns which will suffer.”

 Earlier this year Graham hosted a visit of Tobias Ellwood MP, the then Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport. He met arcade owners in Hornsea and saw first hand the difficulties faced by the industry.