27 June 2008, 13:55 PM
  • Small business owners say that the Government is making it more difficult for them to handle rapidly rising costs, a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed.

The FSB consulted more than 9,000 people; in total, nearly 90% said Government policy is making crippling business costs, such as fuel, even worse. Ninety-six percent of respondents stated that they are unhappy with the Government’s record.

John Wright, the FSB’s national chairman, says, “With the end of a period of relative stability, small business confidence in the Government has plummeted in the last couple of years. Employment, tax and fuel policies have left many small firms feeling that their concerns are not being taken seriously enough.

“All we see is the Government consulting big businesses, with small firms being left out of the loop. But these companies produce over half of UK GDP and it is important that their needs are addressed if we are to get through the current economic difficulties.”