Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Written Statement on setting up of Small Businesses Bureau

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Source: Thatcher Archive: CCOPR 129/76
Editorial comments: Embargoed until 0001 10 February 1976.
Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 534
Themes: Conservative Party (organization), Industry, Taxation, Labour Party & socialism

The Setting up of a Smaller Businesses Bureau by the Conservative Party was announced in a statement today by Mrs. Thatcher, She said:

In Parliament it is the Conservatives who are the champions of the small firm, the self-employed, the individual and all those who want to use their own intitiative.

Now we shall be organised so that the special problems of smaller firms can be brought swiftly to our attention through this new Bureau.

It will operate at Central Office under the direction of Andrew Bowe (Director of Community Affairs and Youth) and will work in close co-operation with David Mitchell, M.P. and his colleagues of the Parliamentary Smaller Businesses Committee.

The Bureau will serve two main purposes. First, it will collate and analyse the views and special problems of small businesses, ensuring that I, the “Shadow” Cabinet, and the Small Businesses Committee, are fully aware of them as they unfold.

Second, the Bureau will provide a direct link between individual small firms and our policy study team. Through its own Newsletter it will report back to small firms who subscribe to it, letting them know what we are doing on their behalf. [end p1]

Today unease is growing among Britain's small firms as those who run them and those who work in them realise that their whole purpose and way of life is imperilled by the cumulative attack on them by the Socialist Government.

When Labour sought votes at the last General Election they did not hesitate to promise action to help the small firm—they even published a White Paper: “The Regeneration of British Industry” . In it they said they would put forward separate proposals to cater for the special needs of small businesses.

Well, where are these helpful proposals? What we have had is Capital Transfer Tax, multi-rate VAT, higher company taxes, and a major attack on the self-employed. Was this what their promises meant? Nothing to help them has been announced in the Government's programme for 1976.

Small firms did not even appear on the Agenda of the last NEDC meeting. From the way they are ignored by this Government no-one would guess that one worker in three outside the public sector owes his livelihood to their continued operation.

When the business cycle picks up, a significant part of demand will be for new products coming from the thrusting young firms in industry. It is they on whom tomorrow's progress will rest—but this Government prefers simply to succour those on whom progress rested yesterday

Any business, in order to succeed, needs to be a partnership of vigorous management, skilled workers and investment capital, each understanding the role of the other, but all working for the same purpose. The trouble is that this Government is so blinded by its Socialist prejudices that it discourages those who invest and mounts its bitterest attack on those who manage the business founded with their own money. [end p2]

The result has been a rapidly rising rate of taxation on all our people. What rewards will this Government leave for those brave enough to set out on their own, those who are prepared to back them, and those who want to work hard?

The prosperity of Britain will not be firmly based unless and until we encourage all those who can create wealth to do so.