HTA welcomes Budget measures - but waits to see the detail
The HTA has welcomed chancellor Rishi Sunak’s measures to help small businesses cope with the impact of coronavirus – but director of policy and communications James Clark said “the devil will be in the detail”.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered the Government’s first budget since the election today (11 March 2020). As expected many of the announcements focussed on providing support to the economy in dealing with coronavirus.
Mr Clark said the budget provided support to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), including in horticulture, to minimise the impact of coronavirus. Measures including assistance with Statutory Sick Pay for SMEs and the abolition of business rates for small businesses for 2020 were all helpful short term measures for members in dealing with the immediate impact of coronavirus. “The devil will be in the detail of how members will fully benefit”, he added.
“With regard to medium and longer-term business support we welcome the long-awaited review of business rates and we will ensure our members’ views are communicated to Government when further detail is available.
“It is positive to hear that the government is making a further commitment to their environmental pledges with the announcement of plans to plant 30,000 trees over the next 5 years. Support for nurseries is critical to build and enhance UK production capabilities for plants as well as trees to help deliver the government’s ambition to create a greener Britain.”