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• March 2012 retail sales volumes: up 1.8% on the month, up 3.3% on the year

Commenting on the retail sales figures for March 2012, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“An increase in retail sales in March was expected after the recent temporary fall, but this rise was well above analysts’ predictions. We shouldn’t over analyse one month’s figures, but this news reinforces hopes that GDP will show positive growth in the first quarter, and that the UK avoided a technical recession. Erratic construction and manufacturing figures may mean the ONS announces a negative figure for Q1 next week, but given the positive messages coming from business surveys, it is important to keep this in context.

“While a positive GDP figure will help maintain business confidence, we mustn’t be complacent. Economic growth in the UK is still too weak and businesses must be empowered to drive the recovery – especially at a time when the public sector is shrinking. Reallocating priorities from within the spending envelope of Plan A towards more policies to boost growth should be a key aim for the government.”

The 1987 Convention on a common transit procedure establishes the measures facilitating the movement of goods between the EU and Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

The rules are effectively identical to those of the Community transit system, the procedure used for customs transit operations between the EU Member States themselves, as well as Andorra and San Marino.

The detailed rules are set out in the Community Customs Code.

It is planned that the Convention on a common transit procedure (as well as the Convention of 20 May 1987 on the simplification of formalities in trade of goods) will be extended to include Croatia and Turkey.

The European Commission has adopted two proposals with regard to the position to be adopted by the Union in the EU-EFTA Joint Committee, when these matters are debated.

As both countries have however fulfilled the legal, structural and information technology requirements, which are pre-conditions for accession, and as the Joint Committee has effectively invited them to apply, these are merely formalities.

Both countries can be expected to be taking part in the common transit procedure with effect from 1 July 2012.

Commenting on today’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decision, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The MPC’s decision to maintain current levels of Quantitative Easing (QE) was the right one. Though the clamour for increasing the asset purchase programme has intensified with the worsening eurozone situation, and signs that the US and Asian economies are slowing, the benefits of additional QE would be marginal at present. However, if conditions in Europe worsen, with more pressure on Spanish banks, and heightened debt problems, then there could be a risk to the UK financial system. In that case, additional QE might be necessary over the next couple of months.

The MPC could also consider introducing a 0% or negative interest rate for deposits held by commercial banks at the Bank of England. This could discourage hoarding, and provide an incentive for banks to increase lending. The Monetary Policy Committee should also focus on helping to boost the flow of credit to businesses, in particular small- and medium-sized firms. That means considering the purchase of assets beyond gilts, for example securitised SME loans. Such a move would make the banks less risk averse lending to businesses, thus helping to remove one of the main obstacles to a sustainable UK recovery.

“We need growth in the economy sooner rather than later, and at the same time protect the UK’s credibility. The government could also address the problem of access to finance by creating a business bank.”

Norfolk Chamber will be providing a business perspective to both Norfolk County Council’s Digital Innovation & Efficiency Committee and representatives from the four main providers of mobile networks in Norfolk later this month in meeting to discuss how mobile coverage in the county could be improved. Senior figures from EE, Telefonica/O2, Three and Vodafone have agreed to come to a meeting of the county Council’s Digital Innovation and Efficiency Committee on Monday, 22 January to update councillors on their current investment plans and identify any opportunities to work together to improve the quality and reach of mobile data and voice coverage in Norfolk. Tom Garrod, Chairman of the Digital Innovation and Efficiency Committee, said:

“We all know that mobile coverage in Norfolk is some way off where we want and need it to be. “Rather than grumble and point fingers, we want to see if there are practical things we can do to help the situation. I’m really pleased the four major mobile providers have accepted our invitation to come and talk to the committee. With a willingness to work together this could be a watershed moment for mobile connectivity in the county.” Opportunities to improve mobile coverage in Norfolk could include identifying and trying to remove any common barriers, using public sector buildings and assets to host mobile infrastructure and better sharing of information, including the results of the County Council’s recently announced mobile coverage survey. This will map mobile voice and data coverage across all major networks providing services in Norfolk. The council is due to award the contract to carry out the survey later this month and the results should be available in March.

Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk Chamber, who will be attending the meeting, said:

“Every Norfolk business wants to able to take advantage of new technology developments as they evolve.   To achieve this we need more investment in our mobile signal infrastructure and changes in how the service providers operate i.e. roaming signals.  The present mobile coverage maps show that there is still a big difference between coverage levels when using a mobile phone indoors and outdoors – by definition a mobile should be just that – mobile.  

“A recent British Chambers of Commerce survey showed that 83% of Norfolk business users experienced ‘not spots’; 43% had access to 4G; and more concerning, there is still 11% of business users who can only access 2G – voice calls only, with no internet or data. 

“We have a diverse and innovative business community in Norfolk, however if we want to be seen as a place to do business and be able to compete at a national and international level, we need more investment in Norfolk’s mobile signal infrastructure and a better service from the mobile providers, including roaming signals.”  

As well as the four mobile providers, representatives from the mobile networks trade body, Mobile UK, will also attend the meeting and take part in the discussion, which will be held at 10am on Monday 22 January 2018. 

Does your business regularly experience poor mobile phone signal coverage?  If you can provide any additional evidence, please contact Nova Fairbank by email: nova.fairbank@norfolkchamber.co.uk. 

Fears that the UK will be flooded with cheap steel, ceramics and other products after Brexit have been voiced by a leading trade union.

Ahead of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill (the “Customs Bill”) receiving its second reading, the GMB called for the proposed Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) to be given the powers necessary to protect UK markets and jobs. The TRA itself is to be established under distinct but related legislation – the Trade Bill.

The effectiveness of the protection will, the union argues, depend on the Government introducing strong anti-dumping legislation.

Tackling unfair dumping here and in other Member States is currently the responsibility of the European Commission, which acts in accordance with EU legislation.

Once the UK leaves the EU, however, it will have to defend itself against unfair trading practices – something the GMB fears will be hard to do if the Government continues with its current approach to the issue.

In a letter signed by the union and nine other organisations that are part of the Manufacturers Trade Remedies Alliance (MTRA), the Government has been accused of ignoring previous submissions regarding the proposed UK trade remedy system.

MTRA members expressed concern that the proposed approach “appears to be predicated on a view that trade remedies are protectionist instruments that are ‘at best tolerated'”.

That view is, it stresses, fundamentally flawed because the role of effective trade remedies is to ensure a level playing field and to support effective competition.

Unless the Government changes tack, the GMB and other signatories fear that the UK will be heading towards “the weakest trade remedy regime in the world”.

At a time of uncertainty for British business, the UK should be legislating for a tried and tested approach to trade remedies, not an experimental one, the letter concludes.

It’s official! Six members of staff from Norfolk Chamber have signed up, and will be taking part, in the City of Norwich Half Marathon on April 15 2018.

The crazy few who have signed up are: Chris Sargisson, Philippa Bindley, Jack Edwards, Naomi Holmes, Joe Fitzgerald and Louise Marsden.

Throughout this challenge, the Norfolk Chamber team will be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

You can donate here.

We are also looking for Norfolk businesses to support us by sponsoring our t-shirts to be worn on the day. Sponsorship starts at £200 and all excess funds will be donated to charity. Get in touch if you’re interested.