SMALL BUSINESSES IN HAMPSHIRE

That this House notes the pressure that the present economic downturn is placing on small businesses in Southampton and Hampshire; believes that local businesses rely on residents to support their local shops and to buy local goods when possible; supports proposals to aid small businesses across the UK, such as the introduction of automatic payments to those businesses eligible for small business rate relief; supports the efforts of the Federation of Small Business, the Rural Shops Alliance and others in highlighting the needs of their industries in the downturn; congratulates the Southern Daily Echo on its Buy Local Shop Local campaign to encourage communities to pull together in support of local traders; and calls on the Government to ensure everything possible is done to help small businesses during the economic downturn.