UpdateUK’s CIA urges government to tackle energy, tax, industry policy

12 May 2010 14:37  [Source: ICIS news]

(adds further UK Chemical Industries Association comment in fourth and fifth paragraphs)

LONDON (ICIS news)--The UK chemical industry on Wednesday welcomed the establishment of a new government and expressed the hope that it would tackle urgently policy issues that have a direct impact on the sector, such as energy and tax.

"We are pleased that there is now a Government in place to take forward urgent policy issues such as energy and competitive tax regimes,” Simon Marsh, employment and communications director at the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) said.

“We hope that the coalition will deliver a strong and stable Government so that the UK is seen as a good place to do business and we look forward to working with politicians from all parties to achieve this."

"The issue we will be seeking urgent clarification on is energy security, specifically the future of new nuclear power stations in the UK which we believe are a vital part of a low carbon energy mix and essential to securing new manufacturing investment to the country," the CIA said. 

"We understand that the Liberal Democrats will have the option to either support or oppose new nuclear build and this is potentially very concerning for us."

The make-up of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat party coalition government, led by new Prime Minister David Cameron, was still being finalised after a close-run national election. Labour's Gordon Brown stepped down as Prime Minister on Tuesday. 

“We need a long-term and consistent business policy that supports UK manufacturing and its supply chains,” the CIA said in a manifesto published in March. Government should benchmark itself against other nations, it said.

“To encourage investment across the UK, planners, regulators and policy-makers need to present a joined-up approach,” the CIA added.

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By: Nigel Davis
+44 20 8652 3214

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