MPA identifies key priorities for Autumn Budget
Mineral Products Association outlines nine priority areas to boost the economy and industry
THE Mineral Products Association (MPA) has submitted its key priorities to the Government for the Autumn Budget. The MPA stresses that the new Government’s economic and industrial strategy needs to fuel sustainable growth and says it is vital that a good deal on Brexit is achieved, to maintain UK competitiveness, protects the country’s reputation and build confidence to encourage investment.
The Association has outlined nine priority areas (listed below) which the Government should address, ranging from Brexit, Industrial Strategy and speeding up infrastructure investment to more industry specific proposals for the Aggregates Levy, the competiveness of energy-intensive industries and the improvement of regulatory processes related to mineral extraction:
- Make Brexit work for trade and skills
- Develop an Industrial Strategy which addresses regional disparities
- Strengthen the National Infrastructure & Construction Pipeline and accelerate transport and road investment
- Increase and improve house building
- Future-proof energy supply
- Increase annual investment allowances
- Protect the competitiveness and productivity of UK energy-intensive industries
- Freeze and improve the Aggregates Levy
- Implement ‘Cutting Red Tape’ review of mineral extraction.
MPA chief executive Nigel Jackson (pictured) commented: ‘The Autumn Budget and related policies are critical for the mineral products industry, our customers and our suppliers. The impending Brexit means that the Government needs to look for every opportunity to support the competiveness of UK industry and to encourage confidence and investment.
‘The mineral products industry, operating throughout the UK and supplying industries with a turnover of £495 billion, is a key ‘enabling’ industry which underpins growth, job creation and productivity improvement through the economy, and also delivers social and environmental objectives.
‘The proposals made to the Government would help build confidence and encourage investment, and give our economy and our industry the platform for sustained long-term growth.’
