FROMTHEEDITOR
Glancing back, there was some good news in the
Autumn Statement from George Osborne – notably the
scrapping of the planned 2p per litre increase on fuel
duty, a two percent cap on business rates and a pledge
to extend the rate relief scheme for small businesses.
Since then, we have had some
more encouraging news for
small businesses but there
is particular concern about
the availability of lending
– especially in the light of
the current debate on bank
bonuses (sound familiar?)
The debate about the
UK’s membership of the
EU rumbles on with the
Chancellor warning that we
could be forced to quit unless
reforms take place. George
Osborne also stressed that
more must be done to ensure
economic competitiveness
with rivals such as China or
India.
LOOKING AHEAD
WITH THE MLA
We welcome Dr Steffan
George of the MLA who sets
out how the Association is
continuing to address the
many issues affecting the
sector.
4
COMBATTING CRIME
Experts from law
enforcement and the private
sector gathered at INTERPOL’s
General Secretariat
headquarters recently to
discuss ways effectively to
combat the growing worldwide
problem of vehicle crime.
‘nearly 200
participants from
55 countries’
The three-day INTERPOL
Global Conference on Vehicle
Crime (26-28 November)
brought together nearly 200
participants from 55 countries,
40 private entities and six
international organisations
to share expertise and best
practices on preventing
vehicle theft, recovering stolen
vehicles and ensuring stolen
vehicles are not us