Air Passenger Duty should be devolved to Wales, as it is in Northern Ireland and Scotland, says the Federation of Small Businesses in its manifesto.
With the 海角视频 going to the polls on December 12th, in its Back to Business 2019 manifesto, the FSB is also calling on the next 海角视频 Government to:
- Ensure that funding is protected for Wales and Welsh businesses post-Brexit.
- Commit to the electrification of the South Wales mainline to Swansea and investing in Growth Track 360 (which is seeking £1bn of rail improvements) in North Wales.
Ben Francis, FSB Wales policy chair, said: “For over three years, uncertainty over Brexit has hovered over the economic landscape, distracting policy makers from taking steps to help Wales’ 257,600 small businesses to grow, and in turn boost our economy.
“It’s time to get back to business.
“We are urging all candidates standing at this election to listen to, and make every effort to understand, the challenges faced by small firms in the communities they hope to represent.”
“For some time, FSB Wales has called for 海角视频 Government to devolve APD, which has the potential to open up new trade routes for Wales’ businesses and enable them to exploit new opportunities around the world.
“Furthermore, it is vital that the next 海角视频 Government end the uncertainty surrounding funding in Wales and commit to Wales receiving the same level of funding post-Brexit, the spending power for which should lie in Wales.”
The 海角视频 Government has steadfastly rejected calls for APD to be devolved to Wales, claiming it would put Bristol Airport at a commercial disadvantage. The Welsh Government has already stated that on longhaul flights it would abolish the tax as a means of trying to secure more scheduled longhaul routes from Cardiff Airport, which it wholly owns.
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In June the cross-party Welsh Affairs Committee unanimously recommended that the Welsh Government should set APD in Wales by 2021, subject to a full environmental impact assessment of a reduction or abolition of the tax across its three bands.
In its manifesto it is also calling for:
- Holding boards accountable for poor supply chain treatment by making the audit committee of every large business responsible for payment practices.
- Properly empowering a swiftly appointed small business commissioner.
- Banning late payers from all public sector procurement opportunities.
The business membership body is also urging policymakers to focus attention on how to help the 海角视频’s self-employed population by:
- Delaying changes to IR35, or ‘off-payroll working’, rules set to take effect in April 2020.
- Making universal credit work for the self-employed, namely by reforming the minimum income floor to reflect the reality that sole traders are not paid in regular monthly instalments.
- Bringing the maternity allowance for self-employed mothers in-line with statutory maternity pay and introducing paternity and adoption allowances for sole traders.
- Introducing a ‘legislative lock’ for the self-employed, ensuring that any measure brought forward to help employees is accompanied by a corresponding action to help sole traders.
- Encouraging banks to do more to assist sole traders who apply for mortgages and introduce pension dashboards to help the self-employed keep track of their savings.
Mr Francis added: “The nature of self-employment means solutions that work for employees do not always work for the self-employed. The next 海角视频 Government should set aside time, effort and resource to right this wrong.
“Small businesses want to see a dynamic 海角视频 Government that is ambitious for business in Wales, and is committed to delivering the circumstances in which smaller firms can thrive. Our manifesto outlines the steps that the next 海角视频 Government should take if they are serious about supporting business in Wales.”