Taxation: Small Businesses

Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with (a) small businesses and (b) organisations representing small businesses on membership of the business-Government forum on tax.

Jane Kennedy
The Chancellor made clear in announcing the business-Government forum that it would focus on discussing ways in which the tax system can provide the long-term certainty multinational companies need. This reflects both the importance of these companies to the UK economy and the fact that many aspects of global economic change most directly affect them. The membership of the forum will reflect this.

The Government do consult widely with small business on specific tax issues, for example in the current consultations on tax simplification for smaller businesses. In addition, the Small Business Forum (SBF), set up in May 2007, provides an informal mechanism for Ministers to engage with the small business community on a wide range of issues.