BPF Praised by Minister

MINISTER AGREES WITH BPF THAT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ARE ‘PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING’ and the BPF is ‘an effective channel of dialogue.’

On 24th July British Plastics Federation Director-General Peter Davis wrote to Business and Enterprise Secretary John Hutton MP on a number of issues affecting the competitiveness of British plastics companies and making proposals.

The BPF has received a reply from the BERR Duty Minister Malcolm Wicks MP in which he writes that he and fellow Ministers, “fully appreciate that economic conditions are difficult at the moment and that industry is finding this particularly challenging on a number of different fronts.”

He adds, “It is therefore very important that we listen carefully to what business has to say.”

He asks the BPF to continue to debate the issues and forward evidence to BERR.

Mr Wicks writes, “I would like to reiterate the value we attach to the strong relationship which exists between BERR and the Federation and am pleased this is proving to be an effective channel of dialogue between Government and Industry.”

Director-General of the BPF said, “It’s important we tell Ministers what’s happening in industry and suggest remedies for problems. The BPF asked for and got: a delay in the Fuel Duty increase; a Stamp Duty Holiday for the first time buyers.”

“We hope our other proposals will be implemented.”

Ends . . .

For further information on this press release, please contact Philip Batten, British Plastics Federation, 6 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3JE, tel 020 7457 5000, fax 020 7457 5045, email: [email protected]

Notes for editors

1) British Plastics Federation (BPF) is the UK trade association for the plastics industry - representing the whole supply chain including polymer producers, distributors, additives suppliers, machinery manufacturers, processors and recyclers.