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Budget 2014: Help for firms hit by high energy bills | Budget 2014: Help for firms hit by high energy bills |
(35 minutes later) | |
Welsh businesses with very high energy bills, such as Tata Steel in Port Talbot, are in line for compensation under a key announcement in the Budget. | Welsh businesses with very high energy bills, such as Tata Steel in Port Talbot, are in line for compensation under a key announcement in the Budget. |
It is understood 16 firms qualify in Wales, sharing some £240m compensation. | It is understood 16 firms qualify in Wales, sharing some £240m compensation. |
There were fears high energy bills could force industries to relocate. | There were fears high energy bills could force industries to relocate. |
In other Budget announcements, the Welsh government will receive an extra £36m to spend over the next two years, a little over 0.1% of its £15bn annual total budget. | In other Budget announcements, the Welsh government will receive an extra £36m to spend over the next two years, a little over 0.1% of its £15bn annual total budget. |
The increase is as a result of extra spending in England. | The increase is as a result of extra spending in England. |
But the Budget was dismissed by Welsh ministers as being "full of missed opportunities" to boost economic growth. | |
UK ministers also said raising the personal income tax allowance to £10,500 in 2015 meant another 14,000 people in Wales would no longer pay income tax. | UK ministers also said raising the personal income tax allowance to £10,500 in 2015 meant another 14,000 people in Wales would no longer pay income tax. |
As a result of the income tax changes, some 1.16m taxpayers in Wales will be on average £61 a year better off. | As a result of the income tax changes, some 1.16m taxpayers in Wales will be on average £61 a year better off. |
Many of those no longer paying income tax will, however, continue to pay National Insurance after April 2015. | Many of those no longer paying income tax will, however, continue to pay National Insurance after April 2015. |
Beer duty is also being cut by 1p. | Beer duty is also being cut by 1p. |
The help for industries which use huge amounts of energy follows a call for action in January by the boss of Tata Steel's operations in Europe. | The help for industries which use huge amounts of energy follows a call for action in January by the boss of Tata Steel's operations in Europe. |
Karl Koehler argued that heavy industries in the UK were burdened with environmental obligations that pushed up their energy bills, sometimes to levels 50% higher than their European competitors. | Karl Koehler argued that heavy industries in the UK were burdened with environmental obligations that pushed up their energy bills, sometimes to levels 50% higher than their European competitors. |
Speaking at a conference in London, he had urged ministers to back businesses that were part of "foundation industries" - including chemicals and metal-based manufacturers. | Speaking at a conference in London, he had urged ministers to back businesses that were part of "foundation industries" - including chemicals and metal-based manufacturers. |
Mr Koehler quoted a report by consultants that said these companies employed nearly half a million people in the UK and accounted for 30% of total exports and imports. | Mr Koehler quoted a report by consultants that said these companies employed nearly half a million people in the UK and accounted for 30% of total exports and imports. |
He said they formed a key part of any economic rebalancing strategy for the UK, which would encourage growth outside the south east of England. | He said they formed a key part of any economic rebalancing strategy for the UK, which would encourage growth outside the south east of England. |
Responding to the Budget measures on Wednesday, Welsh Finance Minister Jane Hutt said: "The chancellor has given Wales an additional £36m over the next two years. | |
"But, at the same time, we are being forced to find at least £70m from our budget over the same period to cover public sector pension costs." | |
"The employment statistics published earlier today show that unemployment in Wales is now lower than in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, a clear example that the Welsh government's policies are working. | |
"For us to build on this further we needed this budget to deliver a significant capital investment boost. This has not happened. | |
"However we will continue to use the resources we have available to us to invest in our Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan priorities," Ms Hutt added. |