Labour’s Business Manifesto has reconfirmed the Party’s pledge to streamline the planning process by introducing fast-tracks for projects of national strategic importance and speeding up inquiry procedures.
The manifesto, which was launched yesterday, states: “Too often the planning system is dogged by delay, to no one’s benefit. We will streamline the planning process, particularly for infrastructure projects. For larger projects, public inquiry procedures will be improved by stricter time-tabling.”
The manifesto also makes a tacit promise to review upward-only rent reviews, citing them as “a source of grievance to many in the business community”. In addition, the Labour Party says it will bolster business by investing in transport and the regions, and will cut back on unnecessary red tape.
The 24-page document renews many of Labour’s 1997 election promises. The core issue is made clear in the introduction: “Labour will take no risks with the economy that would risk pushing inflation and interest rates up.”
The manifesto also promises that Whitehall will have “as light a touch as possible”, and says that Labour will shake up merger laws to make it easier for British companies to merge and stay competitive.
Other passages repeat the Party’s earlier pledge to invest £180bn in transport infrastructure in partnership with £56bn from the private sector, and to give more funds to Regional Development Agencies (RDA) to promote “prosperity for all”. The Party confirms that it will improve the agencies’ business promotions by recruiting more RDA directors with small enterprise backgrounds.
Despite pledging to promote “greater flexibility in the commercial property market”, the manifesto has not responded to pressure from the RICS and BPF and committed the Party to freezing or reducing stamp duty, or to relieving the tax burden on property firms.
EGi News 30/05/01
