Questions to Cameron go unanswered

IN September last year, we wrote a letter to David Cameron asking the question why would anyone want to go into business today?

1. Rent premises.

2. Pay 20 per cent of rent on VAT.

3. Pay 43 per cent of rent in business rates

4. Staff costs, minimum wage, pay for four weeks holiday, risk pitfalls of employment legislation, maternity leave etc.

5. After three months receive first electricity bill and pay 10 per cent climate levy on top of payment.

6. If turnover exceeds £65,000 register for VAT and collect money, add 20 per cent on to costs. Collect National Insurance and tax for Government.

7. After trading for a year submit accounts, pay accountant and pay 21 per cent on profits.

I brought up the fact that business rates, which increase every April now, and the fact that property owners are charged business rates when the property has been empty for three months are causing businesses to close.

I did not receive any reply from Cameron’s office except a printed card saying the letter would be dealt with in due course. I sent a copy to Nigel Adams our local MP – no reply – and then to Vince Cable.

I received a reply on May 17 from BIS Department for Business Innovation and Skills who have not answered one aspect of my letter and sent two pages of gobbledygook none of which addresses any of my points.

Not really good enough, is it?

From: Allan Davies, Heathfield Court, Grimsby, NE Lincs.

I RUBBED my eyes in disbelief as I read Bernard Ingham’s article (Yorkshire Post, May 23) “Tax and spend went out of fashion as Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher followed a more orthodox approach”.

These much-derided policies gave us full-employment and faster growth than at almost any time in our industrial history. Those which Sir Bernard applauds have created mass unemployment, slowed growth and eventually an economic catastrophe matching that of the 20s and 30s when they were last in vogue.

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme.

THE bankrupt state of most of the euro countries suits Germany very well indeed, and she will be happy to see that situation become prolonged.

To have a thriving, export-led economy combined with an almost worthless currency is any economists’s dream of Nirvana.

How long it will be until the euro countries wake up to that fact is anyone’s guess.

From: Alan Carcas, Cornmill Lane, Liversedge, West Yorkshire.

GREEK politicians consider that Christine Lafarge’s remarks about them not paying their taxes is insulting to the Greek people.

Will that stop them taking our money to bale them out of self-inflicted bankruptcy – again?

No, I thought not!

Quality TV from Sweden

From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.

AS far as I am concerned, something like 80 per cent of all the programmes shown on UK television over the last 30 years have been tripe, especially during the last 10 years.

I have just finished watching a 10-part police drama made in Sweden, called The Bridge. It is the best, most enjoyable TV I have seen for a very very long time.

The story, the acting, the drama, twists and turns, the unexpected, the feasability, the suspense, the humour was brilliant.

It had subtitles but that made it even better – please, please can we have more programmes like this.