Supporting small businesses in Chipping Barnet has always been a high priority for Theresa Villiers during the 10 years she was the MP for the area. She would continue to campaign to support local businesses and high streets if she is re-elected next week. That includes fighting for better broadband for Barnet. Here is an update on what a Conservative Government would do to support small businesses.
1) Keeping the £2000 Employment Allowance we have introduced until 2020; as a result 450,000 small businesses will pay no National Insurance jobs tax at all.
2) Supporting parents who run small businesses with 30 hours of free child care during term time for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds. There are more women-led businesses than ever before. 20% of small and medium sized enterprises are either run by women or by a team that was over 50% female, up from 14% in 2008.
3) Backing small firms with a major business rates review.
4) Cutting another £10bn of red tape so businesses are not stopped from operating by unnecessary bureaucracy.
5) Helping the self-employed by commissioning an urgent review into disadvantages they face in accessing Statutory Maternity Pay, building up a pension & accessing mortgages.
6) Continuing to prioritise investment in infrastructure – over the next Parliament we will invest over £100 billion.
7) Trebling the number of Start Up Loans so we back people who want to take a risk to make a better life for themselves & their families.
8) Establishing a new Small Business Conciliation service to mediate in disputes, especially over late payment.
The manifesto sets a target of 600,000 new business starts a year by 2020.