Pottery industry welcomes George Osborne's budget tax break
CERAMICS companies have welcomed a tax break from the Government which will save firms thousands of pounds and help safeguard the future of the industry.
Chancellor George Osborne yesterday announced that the pottery industry would be exempt from the Climate Change Levy (CCL) from next year.
-
Chancellor George Osborne has handed the pottery industry a tax break.
He said he was persuaded to take action after Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Tristram Hunt 'argued passionately' to ease the crippling costs to companies in the Potteries.
He added: "In the Spending Round we will provide support for energy intensive industries beyond 2015."
Visiting the Home & Garden show this Sunday?
We will have some exclusive deals for you so make sure you visit our stand and say hello
Terms: With free entry just visit the show at the Moat House hotel Festival Park between 11am and 4pm and pick up a leaflet
Contact: 01782 342609
Valid until: Sunday, June 23 2013
Business leaders believe the move will go some way towards protecting the future of the industry.
Chief executive of the British Ceramic Confederation, Laura Cohen said: "We welcome the announcement. This is an important signal to companies in the sector that the Government has understood the cumulative climate change-related tax burden in the UK and is taking the threat to international competitiveness seriously."
Mr Hunt said: "This is great news for the ceramic industry in Stoke-on-Trent. I am glad George Osborne has listened to the lobbying of city MPs about the impact of energy taxes.
"This tax-break is another step along the path to a potteries' revival."
The CCL is paid on the taxable supply of power, such as electricity and gas, to businesses, and the cash is used to subsidise the production of renewable energy.
But campaigners argued that for energy intensive industries, like ceramics, there was a danger that businesses would be driven overseas.
Phil Wood, president of North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "The exemption is fantastic news for North Staffordshire and our ceramic industry. Anybody who uses energy commercially pays the CCL, but for high users, like potteries which use gas and electricity for the kilns, they were being landed with disparately high costs.
"It is tremendous news and the fact that Stoke-on-Trent was one of the few places mentioned by the Chancellor in his Budget is in itself a good thing for the area."
Max Dudson, chief executive of Dudson, said: "This helps the industry to remain competitive in the worldwide market."
4 Comments
by Raymond101
Monday, March 25 2013, 8:17AM
“I have not seen any Tory Government do anything for the man in the street yet, it alright him saying increasing cost of electric, gas, rates which will not get passed back to the customer, he living in make believe world, hear say, that what a budget is no more and no less.
the best thing this Government can do, is call to a election, they have completely mess the Country up big time.”
by Raymond101
Monday, March 25 2013, 8:16AM
“I have not seen any Tory Government do anything for the man in the street yet, it alright him saying increasing cost of electric, gas, rates which will not get passed back to the customer, he living in make believe world, hear say, that what a budget is no more and no less.
the best thing this Government can do, is call to a election, they have completely mess the Country up big time.”
by PlayboyLeaLea
Thursday, March 21 2013, 10:11PM
“wades isn't in burslem anymore... it's in etruria....”
by jazbradley
Thursday, March 21 2013, 3:48PM
“glad to see 2 thing out of the budget, the one above for our pottery company's great , and the other isfor the city pubs and clubs which is the 1p off the beer, which will not get passed back to the customer due to the ever increasing cost of
1 electric
2 gas
3 rates
just to name 3
in the future there should be a lower tax on draught beers that come only out of a pump in pubs or clubs , bottles and cans should remain the same, and off licenses and supermarkets should not be allowed to have anytype of pump fitted
at last the goverment can see that losing 10,500 pubs is not right and thay should be helped, but beware the brewers will find away of getting the 1p back off us ???”