Clearview National June 2017 - Issue 187 | Page 90
BUSINESSNEWS
Backing Britain’s prosperity
» » WITH THE UK AT A CROSSROADS,
facing Brexit negotiations and the adoption of
new technologies that will define prosperity
for generations, the CBI is calling on the next
Government to prioritise stability and a long-
term vision for the economy.
In ‘Backing Britain’s Prosperity’, the UK’s
leading business organisation, speaking on
behalf of 190,000 businesses, lays out how the
next Government and employers can work
together to make a success of Brexit and secure
the bigger, long-term prize of making the
UK the most inclusive, innovative and open
economy in the world.
The top immediate priority for the next
Government must be to provide as much
certainty as possible to support firms in
making the investment decisions necessary
for the UK’s future prosperity. This means
being as clear as possible on tax and regulatory
stability, and firms’ ability to access skills.
For long-term success, the next Government
should champion good business and work
together on Brexit and an ambitious Industrial
Strategy that takes a long-term approach to
skills, infrastructure, innovation and trade.
Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General,
said: “The UK’s hard-won reputation as a
predictable, pro-enterprise economy must be
protected - the world is watching.
“It is vital for both sides in negotiations to
prioritise jobs and our £600 billion trade with
the EU in the Brexit talks.
“The bigger prize can only be won if the
next government commits to an ambitious
long-term Industrial Strategy that builds the
skills and infrastructure the UK so badly
needs, and puts innovation at the heart of
the UK economy. Brexit must not be allowed
to crowd out fixing the foundations of our
economy.”
In summary, the CBI is calling on the next
Government to:
ENSURE THE UK REMAINS A
GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS
• Reduce uncertainty through business tax
predictability, a policy of ‘no surprises’,
and minimal regulatory change (including
through the Great Repeal Bill)
• Reverse the rising cumulative burden
on business to enhance competitiveness,
including a full review of business rates
by the end of the next Parliament
• Ensure that businesses in Scotland,
Northern Ireland and Wales continue
to benefit from an effective UK single
market.
PRIORITISE JOBS AND TRADE
IN EU NEGOTIATIONS
• Rule out a fall-back into World Trade
Organisation rules and ensure robust
interim transitional arrangements are
agreed as soon as possible
• Immediately guarantee right to remain
for EU citizens working in the UK, and
by December 2017 confirm the new
migration system that will enable firms
to access the skills and people they need
to deliver growth while addressing public
concerns
• Get top minds from Government and
business working together in ‘brightest
and best’ joint Brexit taskforces on some
of the most complex issues: customs;
data, regulation, people, and EU
funding.
COMMIT TO A LONG-TERM
INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY:
SKILLS, INFRASTRUCTURE
AND INNOVATION
• Ensure every child has a good core
education, using Chartered College of
Teaching and a new fund to support
heads and teachers, and guarantee high
quality careers advice in all schools by
2020, with firms as valued partners
• Build quality pathways to skilled careers
by redesigning the Apprenticeship Levy
to ensure it delivers quality and not
just quantity, alongside a revolution
in technical and digital skills through
excellent implementation of new T-Levels
by 2021
• Maintain timely progress on delivering a
third runway at Heathrow and set out a
long-term aviation strategy by 2018
• Push forward with projects that will
drive productivity within as well as across
regions, including demonstrating clear
progress on Crossrail 2 and plans for
Northern Powerhouse Rail
• Target R&D spending of 3% GDP by
2025, and kick start it through a new
tax allowance and renewed partnership
between firms, universities and
Government
• Ensure the durability and success of the
Industrial Strategy by establishing clear
objectives and milestones and monitor
progress independently of Government.
WORK WITH FIRMS TO EMBED
GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE
• Back business proposals to address poor
conduct through a new ‘yellow card’
process for shareholders on remuneration,
and for firms to report publicly on how
they have engaged with employees and
stakeholders
• Set up a joint Commission involving
business and Government to examine the
impact of new technologies, including
Artificial Intelligence and robotics, on
people and jobs, with recommendations
for action and policy by June 2018.
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