12 March 2020
European Union flag in front of the Big Ben, Brexit EU
DIDCOT, UK: Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered the Government’s first budget since the election on 11 March 2020. As expected many of the announcements focussed on providing support to the economy in dealing with coronavirus.
James Clark, Director of Policy and Communications at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) comments: “Today’s budget provides support to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), including in horticulture, to minimise the impact of coronavirus. Measures including assistance with Statutory Sick Pay for SMEs and the abolition of business rates for small businesses for 2020 are all helpful short term measures for our members in dealing with the immediate impact of coronavirus. The devil will be in the detail of how members will fully benefit.”
With regard to medium and longer-term business support HTA welcomes the long-awaited review of business rates and we will ensure its members’ views are communicated to Government when further detail is available.
Clark says, “It is positive to hear that the Government is making a further commitment to their environmental pledges with the announcement of plans to plant 30,000 trees over the next 5 years. Support for nurseries is critical to build and enhance UK production capabilities for plants as well as trees to help deliver the Government’s ambition to create a greener Britain.”
Key announcements