Trade & Industry

Conservative & Labour Liberal Democrats
Britain has long been at the bottom of the league of developed economies for both growth and manufacturing production. British industry is in decline because training, investment, research and development are all inadequate. This is a result of our manufacturing base being too small.

The Conservatives while in power lost nearly a third of Britain's industrial base.

Labour still favours government interference and plans to close 'tax-loopholes' which could hit industry hard. They still take far too much notice of what union bosses demand rather than what people want and need.

Under Labour, Britain's manufacturing base continues to decline. During the summer of 1998 unemployment in the manufacturing sector increased by over 30,000 people.

The Prime Minister was alarmed enough to pay a visit to the threatened Fujitsu factory in his constituency.

Liberal Democrats would concentrate on skills, technology and investment. We would:
  • Invest in education and training, research and innovation, to provide the skills that Britain needs for the future.
  • The introduction of a training levy on firms of a sum equal to 2% of payroll minus their approval expenditure on training.
  • Set up Regional Development Agencies to help businesses and regenerate local economies.
  • Promote industries that are environmentally sustainable.
  • Promote national and local partnership initiatives to bring private money into the financing of public infrastructure projects.
  • Help small businesses and the self-employed with laws to penalise late payment of debt and incentives for investors to plan for the long term.
  • Strengthen competition policy and regulate monopolies.
  • The reform of industrial relation, through employee rights of access to participation in decision-making, profit sharing, profit-related pay and employee share ownership.

Improving the postal service:

  • The postal service should be given the freedom to invest in companies, participate in joint ventures and establish postal and related company both in this country and abroad. In New Zealand their postal service has joint ventures with the private sector.
  • The door-to-door service for every household and all sub-post offices are to be protected.
  • Create a more flexible post service, so that it can respond to changing shopping patterns and population movements.
  • Develop a wider range of services, such as personal banking, travel services, bureaux de change and forms of insurance.
  • Provide post offices with the latest technology to cut queues, such as client cash transactions, such as payment of bills and benefit payments.

 

worker

Facts & Figures.

  • During a 150 year period Britain was a net exporter of manufactured goods, but since 1984, Britain has become a net importer.

Questions & Answers.

Q.
You and Labour are just the same - inflicting big burdens on small businesses?.
A.
No. We believe the market is usually right and that every government interference should have a justification. Our proposals are for a safety net to stop the worst abuses. 

Q.
Only the Labour party is truly committed to boosting investment?.
A.
Labour proposed less investment than us at the last general election and Tony Blair proposes very few specifics on investment. 

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