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Autumn Statement Predictions

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29 November will see Chancellor George Osborne take to the stand to deliver the eagerly anticipated Autumn Statement. The UK economy is in desperate need of a growth spurt, despite the recent £75 billion Quantitative Easing boost, and business groups are already campaigning for the announcements they want to see.

Here are some of the Autumn Statement rumours and suggestions that are doing the rounds:

Credit easing
It almost certain that ‘credit easing’ will be announced by the Chancellor later this month. The formalities of which have yet to be decided, but reports suggest that it will involve the public sector buying bonds issues by companies – in an attempt to cut the cost of credit for companies, and also boost the supply of credit.

Targeted VAT cuts and NIC holidays
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is calling for the Government to introduce a targeted VAT cut to encourage people to spend in specific areas. The FSB also wants to see an extension of the NICs holiday that is currently available to qualifying new businesses, to existing businesses across the UK that have fewer than four employees and that employ up to three more staff.

Banking reform
The Chancellor has been urged to use the Autumn Statement to respond to the Independent Commission on Banking’s (ICB) Final Report and boost competition in the banking sector.

Capital allowances
Business bodies have called for the introduction of 100 per cent first year capital allowances for a time limited period of two years.

Corporation tax
The main rate of corporation tax was reduced to 26 per cent from April 2011 in this year’s Budget, and will reduce by a further 1 per cent each year to 23 per cent in 2014. However, the Institute of Directors (IoD) has called for the Chancellor to cut corporation tax to 15 per cent by 2020.

Growth Review
The second phase of the Growth Review is due to be announced alongside the Autumn Statement. However, business groups have called for it to be reformed, claiming it is not currently targeting the most importance drivers of growth. If it goes ahead as planned, the second phase will focus on skills, infrastructure, logistics, medium-sized businesses and the rural economy.

What will be announced remains to be seen, but we will have a full report of the Autumn Statement available the day after it has been delivered. Please contact us for more details.