BPF Responds To Chancellor's Autumn Statement

Peter Davis Director-General of the BPF said this was a steady as you go Statement by the Chancellor, with some positive news for business".

The Seven Associations 7th November letter to the Chancellor called for cancellation of fuel duty increases and a freeze on Business Rate increases. PD said "Fuel tax frozen until May 2015, and capping 2014 Business Rates increases to 2% is good news for plastics companies struggling to hold down costs".

"We asked for more support for Exporting so we welcome the doubling of Export finance to £50bn".

"The additional funding for 20,000 more apprenticeships over two years is also welcome to alleviate growing skills shortages as is Employer NICs being scrapped on 1.5 million jobs for young people".

"We are disappointed to see no commitment to substantially raise Landfill tax to drive waste towards recycling, also little evidence of Government action to ensure energy supply can comfortably meet demand at affordable prices".

ENDS

For all media enquiries, BPF logos and images please contact Laura Hindley, Communications and Industrial Issues Executive on [email protected] or 0207 457 5043

Notes for editors:

The 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.