Birmingham and Solihull business leaders say the revised
improvement in GDP figures from 0.1% to 0.3% announced 26th
February 2010 should not divert attention from the real challenges
facing UK plc.
Katie Teasdale, senior policy adviser at Birmingham Chamber of
Commerce, said: "There is a need to ensure we avoid a double dip
recession. The Chamber's quarter four research found that although
service sector firms are seeing an increase in sales, growth in
manufacturing is confined to the still fragile export market.
"It is crucial that the government seeks to boost confidence by
increasing funding availability. The Chamber is in the process of
finalising a major new petition against the planned rise in
employer National Insurance Contributions - a clear 'tax on
jobs'.
"A worrying significant fall in business investment was revealed
yesterday and government priority has to be to ease the tax burden
on business to encourage growth and recruitment."