Spring 2002 Newsletter - Page 2

Letter from the House

April has seen the Budget, which is probably one of the political highlights of the year for the simple reason that it affects every single person in this country for better or for worse. Normally where Governments are concerned, regardless of persuasion, it is for worse and I do not think that this Budget has been any different. I can quite agree that taxation has to rise to pay for services and I have no problem with that at all providing that there is reform within the public service sector to ensure that they are made efficient and effective.

Of course one of the powerhouses of taxation is business. If you do not have healthy business, you do not have the taxation to pay for all the other things that we need. One of the things that I have been pushing Government to do, as my predecessor did, is to listen to and help business as much as possible so that they can provide jobs, opportunities and the wealth of the country. Napoleon said that we were a nation of small shopkeepers and to an extent what he said is still right, as I am given to understand that we have the highest number of businesses per head of any other country in Europe. I would like to see Government give tax breaks, incentives and VAT relief on many more goods so that businesses themselves are either exempt or can claim it back.

I feel that the strength we have as a nation is our independence and the way that we trade and Bridgwater is a prime example of that as an industrial town. It is one of the few industrial towns this far west; it has a diversity which is very seen in other towns its size; and it competes directly with other towns far greater than it in size.

You may rest assured that I shall continue to keep up the pressure on Ministers within the House to ensure that we are listened to in the future.

Tel: 01278 458383

Fax 01278 433613

Email ianlg@parliament.uk

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