Speaking up for business

Last week there was a Commons debate in which any backbencher could speak on any issue they chose. It was an interesting afternoon with subjects as diverse as animal rights and the origins of Rugby.

I addressed issues that matter to my constituency. This included a firm focus on the importance of local businesses — it is too often assumed that it is only areas with high levels of public sector employment or inner cities or our industrial heartlands that are vulnerable to these tougher times — but rural areas are not immune as recent developments in Okehampton demonstrate.

I highlighted several factors that I feel the Government should focus on in order to support our rural businesses, including supporting farmers by tackling Bovine TB.

The importance of keeping business taxes down — in the last budget the Chancellor announced that corporation tax would be reduced by an additional percentage point but we need to do more, especially to lower employers' National Insurance — effectively a tax on jobs.

Also, fuel duty — the Chancellor helped by cutting this by 1p in the last budget and introduced the Fair Fuel Stabiliser but we need to remain vigilant as higher fuel prices hit rural communities hardest.

Finally, I raised the issue of internet access where many rural businesses and individuals have a poor service. Nationally, 18% of households have internet access speeds of less than 2mbps, across Devon this figure is over 30%.

Inadequate access results in increased costs (£274 per year per affected household according to one study).

The recently formed Local Enterprise Partnership which covers Devon is making an impressive bid for some of the £500-million allocated by the government to improve internet access across the country by 2015. I will continue to support them.