Forum says govt must be bolder when helping businesses

The Forum of Private Business (Forum) says that the government is making progress when it comes to improving business conditions - but that there is still a long way to go.

Responding to the coalition government's mid-term review, published earlier this week, the Forum's Head of Policy Alex Jackman said that ministers have been bold, but they could have been "brave and gone further".

In particular, he believes that the government is right to get involved with the prompt payment debate, but must go further on employment rights.

"They are deregulating, but at the same time extending the right to request flexible working to all and changes to parental leave will increase admin burdens on business," Mr Jackman noted.

"So while the government has been moving in the right direction and appears to be doing the macro things more or less right - that is reducing the deficit and keeping interest rates low - the burdens on business are slowing, not stopping altogether."

It comes after Michael Fallon, the Business and Enterprise Minister, told the Sunday Telegraph that the government will continue to help small businesses cope with the late-payment culture.

Posted by Thomas Fletcher

Date published 11 Jan 2013 | Last updated 11 Jan 2013