Content

As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.

Clarke Willis is Chief Executive of Anglia Farmers Limited. The Agricultural company that is based in Horningham Thorpe, Colton have been members of the Chamber for over 8 years.

Clarke’s question to the Chancellor was:

“In East Anglia we now have vast tracks of prime land now being used to grow maize to feed AD (Anaerobic Digester) plants to produce gas which in turn producers electricity.

We have a number of large scale (50 acres plus) PV (photovoltaic panels) which again are being constructed on prime agricultural land and finally we have a straw pellet plant in the county which takes up to 50,000 tonnes of straw, uses energy to grind and then pellet the straw to be loaded on trucks to go to Drax power station to produce “green electricity”.

These projects would not be viable except with massive financial support through FiT’s which we all pay for in our utility bills.

On the other hand we are seeing global demand for food increasing which is leading to higher prices and shortages. We are net importers of most of the staple foods we eat and the continued growth of the global population will put massive strains on the supply chain.

We could produce more food. In Norwich we have world class crop and food research facilities but they cannot bring to market the innovative and sustainable developments they have because of the government / EU view on GM technology.”

Find on the attached document the written response from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.

Richard Ross is Director at Chadwicks Ltd who have recently reached their one year anniversary as members of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce.

Richard’s question to the Chancellor was:

“While the recent improvements in employment prospects are to be welcomed I am sure the Minister will join me in agreeing that the persistency of high levels of unemployment in younger people are a source of national shame for which we all – government, businesses, educators, parents – must take our share of responsibility. Those least responsible are the young people, many of whom have worked hard to prepare for a productive life only to have those dreams cruelly snatched away from them.

Can you reassure us that suggestions made by Mr Cameron, and detailed by Mr Gove, to restrict benefits to under-25s were no more than Party Conference over-exuberance and that there is no intention to further ostracise this important future resource by implicitly laying the blame for high youth unemployment at their feet rather than where it should truly sit?”

Find on the attached document the written response from the HM Treasury.

China-Britain Business Council and UK Trade & Investment have identified the latest business opportunities for UK companies across various sectors.

This is a fairly long list so make sure you don’t miss out and see if there are any of interest to you and your specific sector.

Please click here for the full listing.

Commenting on statement by Chancellor George Osborne on the minimum wage, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

“Although it is clear that there is an increased disparity between the highest and lowest earners, arbitrarily raising the floor isn’t necessarily the solution and could in fact make the UK economy uncompetitive in the long term. The adverse effects of an unaffordable minimum wage hike would also be predominantly concentrated among SMEs, young people and graduates. If we want to spread the wealth around as the economy recovers, we need a long-term plan to create a high-skill, high-wage economy, including action on infrastructure and access to finance.”

Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:

“Increasing the minimum wage by more than inflation rate could have a detrimental effect on the Norfolk business community, the majority of whom fall into the SME bracket. Economic recovery is fragile and many employers are working hard in challenging markets and increased wage bills would slow their progress to growth.

The Living Wage campaign has been gathering momentum across the the public sector and larger employers and this looks to be a compromise, increasing the minimum wage but keeping it lower than the Living Wage rate.”