Sheryll Murray MP was pleased to visit many of the small shops on Torpoint Fore Street on Saturday as part of a national campaign following the Autumn Statement.
Following her visit Sheryll explained, “I was pleased to visit businesses for Small Business Saturday in Torpoint asking what they thought of the Autumn Statement and what else they would like to see the Chancellor do to help them.”
There were specific parts of the Autumn Statement which helped small businesses. A Conservative Party spokesman said, “Local businesses will benefit from a cap on business rate rises and an extension of rate relief. The increase in business rates next year will be capped at 2 per cent – businesses were expecting a rise of 3.2 per cent. We are also extending and expanding the doubling of small business rate relief, making more businesses eligible for it and keeping it up to April 2015.
“We’re helping the high street with a £1,000 business rates discount and a reoccupation relief. Shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants will all get a £1,000 discount on their business rates bills for the next two years - those with bills less than £1,000 will pay no rates at all. We’re also helping to revive high streets by halving the rates businesses will pay for 18 months when they move into retail properties that have been closed for a year or more.
“We’re making it easier to employ young people by abolishing the jobs tax on under 21s. From April 2015 employers will pay no national insurance on under 21 year olds earning less than £813 per week – the threshold for paying higher rate tax. This will save employers more than £1,000 for every under 21 they employ earning £16,000 a year.
“Motorists will save even more on petrol as the freeze on fuel duty is extended further. Labour’s planned increase in fuel duty for 2014 has been cancelled. That means fuel duty will have been frozen for nearly four and a half years. Fuel will be 20 pence per litre lower than it would have been under the Labour’s plans, saving a typical motorist £11 each time they fill up their tank.”
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Contact: Sheryll Murray MP 01579 344428
Pictured: Sheryll visits Studio 2 in Torpoint Fore Street