Brown backs 'X Factor' and enterprise agenda
News Article 5 November 2006
Gordon Brown has backed a new drive to support young people and encourage enterprise.
Small Business Service faces cuts
Press Review 27 October 2006
Ministers have announced broad cuts to the Small Business Service.
Tory leader hints at tax plans
News Article 18 October 2006
As a party commission prepares to back £21bn of tax cuts, David Cameron has said he wants to see a "simpler, fairer and flatter" taxation system.
Carol Undy - Federation of Small Businesses
Stakeholder Interview 10 October 2006
Carol Undy, honorary chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, speaks to ePolitix.com about the control of business rates.
DTI agency faces shake-up after criticism
News Article 18 September 2006
The Small Business Service will be restructured following complaints it is ineffective.
Ministers review aid for small firms
Press Review 18 September 2006
Industry secretary Alistair Darling has said that the Small Business Service will be made "smaller and more focused on what it can do".
Salmond pledges rates cut for small firms
News Article 4 September 2006
An SNP government in Scotland would abolish or cut business rates for about 150,000 small firms, party leader Alex Salmond said.
Osborne calls for small business drive
Press Review 22 August 2006
Shadow chancellor George Osborne will use a visit to the Forum of Private Business to call for government procurement to be opened up to small business.
Business bids to avert rates shift
Press Review 22 August 2006
The Federation of Small Businesses is set to mount a campaign against plans to shift responsibility for setting business rates from Whitehall to local councils.
Osborne outlines plan to boost small firms
News Article 22 August 2006
George Osborne has announced a four-point Conservative plan to help smaller businesses.
Small business agency under threat
News Article 24 May 2006
The existence of the Small Business Service, part of the Department of Trade and Industry, has been brought into question because it is unable to show its usefulness.
Small business agency under fire
Press Review 24 May 2006
The Small Business Service has been criticised by the National Audit Office for its inability to fight red tape and to say what their £2.6bn spend is achieving, according to the Financial Times.
Hutton woos small firms in pensions debate
News Article 24 March 2006
John Hutton has said the decision on whether to introduce a compulsory national pensions scheme is still "finely balanced".
Budget 2006: Business issues
News Article 22 March 2006
The chancellor has promised a raft of new measures to boost the competitiveness of British businesses.
Small shops 'squeezed out in 10 years'
News Article 15 February 2006
Small retailers in the UK could be put out of business by large chains within 10 years unless the government takes preventative action, a report has warned.
