BUSINESSNEWS
BUDGET 2014: BUSINESS, BEER AND BINGO....
In his Budget speech, George Osborne said that the economy is now growing faster
than predicted and expectations for growth this year and next have also been revised
up by the Office for Budget Responsibilty (OBR) – to 2.7% in 2014 and 2.3% in 2015.
A deficit that reached 11% of GDP in 200910 is now forecast to fallen by half to 5.5%
in the coming year and will be eradicated by
2018-19.
But he emphasised that “the job is not yet
done, and further difficult decisions will be
needed to continue reducing the deficit and
debt.”
The government will cap the welfare budget
to control spending, ensure that employers are
meeting the full costs of public service pension
schemes and limit public sector pay increases.
British businesses will see a boost by the
government:
• doubling the annual investment allowance to
£500,000 until the end of 2015
• offering the best export finance in Europe
• reducing energy costs, to ensure that the
UK remains a competitive location for
manufacturing
Radical measures to help savers and
pensioners were announced and the
government is taking action to help families
keep more of what they earn and to save for
their retirement. This will be achieved by
reducing taxes by increasing the level of the
tax-free personal allowance further, from
£10,000 to £10,500 in April 2015.
The Chancellor has come under fire for some
of the rather patronising measures – such as
the cut in duty on beer by 1 penny a pint,
freezing duty on cider and spirit, abolishing
the above inflation duty escalator for wine and
halving bingo duty.
He also announced an increase in the
maximum Tax-Free Childcare support
available to £2,000 per year for each child;
extending the Help to Buy equity loan scheme
to March 2020 and providing £140 million of
new fu nding to repair flood defences that have
suffered damage in the recent severe flooding,
as well as providing £200 million to establish a
potholes challenge fund.
The cost of long haul flights will be cut by
abolishing the top two bands of Air Passenger
Duty.
What do you think? E: [email protected]
Counter Terror Workshops
The Glass and Glazing
Federation (GGF) is planning
to host two unique workshops
at Counter Terror Expo 2014
(London Olympia) on 29
April in the Security Solutions
Theatre.
The GGF workshops scheduled
are “A Guide to Safety and
Security Glazing” presented by
John Agnew, Chairman GGF
Glazing Executive and “The
Value of Retrofitting Enhanced
Glazing Security” presented by
Ian Penfold GGF Window Film
Group Chairman.
The programme for the
workshops is outlined below:
Tuesday 29 April 2014,
London Olympia
Security Solutions Theatre
1300 - 1325
A Guide to Safety and
Security Glazing
John Agnew, Chairman
GGF Glazing Executive
1330 - 1355
The Value of Retrofitting
Enhanced Glazing Security
Ian Penfold, Chairman GGF
Window Film Group
Counter Terror Expo’s Security
Solutions Theatre will feature
a series of interactive product
launches complemented by
unique presentations delivered
by experts focusing on the latest
industry developments. Product
launches and presentations in this
workshop will focus on; Perimeter
86
APR 2014
Protection, Surveillance, Glass
and Glazing, Building Protection,
Cyber Security, Screening &
Scanning, CCTV and Access
Control, all of which should be
considered when assessing and
improving the approach towards
integrated security.
Commenting on the GGF’s
workshop schedule, John Agnew,
Chairman of the GGF Glazing
Executive commented, “I am
looking forward to presenting
at Counter Terror Expo. It will
provide the perfect platform to
underline the importance of safety
and security glazing and highlight
the excellence of the GGF’s work
in this sector.”
Ian Penfold, GGF Window Film
Group Chairman added, “Many
customers may already appreciate
the qualities of Window Film
when it comes to improving their
living and working conditions
but few are fully aware of the
security benefits. Counter Terror
Expo will be a great opportunity
to explain how applying window
film products can cost effectively
enhance the security of existing
glazing to recognised performance
levels.”
Steve Rice, GGF Director
of Glazing commented, “The
GGF recognises the importance
of safety and security glazing
and is pleased to be exhibiting
and presenting at this key
exhibition.”
All those attending will receive
on the day, a free copy of The
Good Practice Guide to Safety
and Security Glazing.
GGF is on Stand No: G0. To
register free visit: https://ctx2014.
registerbynet.com/
www.ggf.org.uk
To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com