BCC challenges the Chancellor

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has published its Budget submission to coincide with its annual conference. Key features of the submission – which has been delivered to the chancellor Alistair Darling - include a call for a clear deficit reduction plan that sets out detailed cuts. "This plan must include a freeze in the total public sector wage bill and fundamental reform of public sector pensions," the organisation said.

The BCC has also called on the planned one per cent rise in employer National Insurance Contributions to be scrapped, with an extra penny added to VAT to compensate for the revenue loss.

A three-year moratorium on new employment law is also required, the BCC says, since new legislation will cost a combined £25 billion over this period. Finally, the organisation has called for more support around export trade finance and sustained investment in transport, digital and energy networks.

APA supports BCC in these calls.

APA