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Government 'Fails to Address Needs of Small Businesses'
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11/12/00
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Some 88% of small businesses in England and Wales believe that the present
government is doing "less than" or "the same as" the
previous Conservative government to help small businesses succeed, according
to the most recent findings of Finance Line, a quarterly survey from Taylor
Nelson Sofres Finance.
These findings confirm that the views of small businesses towards the
government have remained virtually unchanged during the last three months -
in the summer, Finance Line reported that 82% of small businesses felt that
the government was doing less than or the same as the previous government to
help them.
In addition, only 5% of small businesses currently feel that the present
government is doing "more" to address the needs of small
businesses than it was 12 months ago - some 45% feel that the government is
doing "less now than a year ago".
In the wake of the recent publication of the Cruickshank Report, small
businesses were also asked who they thought offered the most practical
support in making their company successful, the government or their bank.
Seven out of ten (71%) feel their bank offered the most practical support
compared with only one in ten saying that the Government provided this. One
in five were unable to choose between their bank and the government.
According to Tony Smith, Director of Taylor Nelson Sofres Finance,
"Small businesses in England and Wales have clearly remained
unconvinced that the government is doing anything to address their specific
needs for some time. With a General Election on the horizon, the government
now faces a considerable challenge to demonstrate the tangible benefits of
its policies to the small business community."
The Finance Line survey questioned 999 people responsible for financial
matters in companies with a turnover of up to £1 million in England and
Wales during October 2000.
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