Boosting British business

HOW do we improve our country’s productivity? By all means, the Government should continue to fund research and development for high tech companies who choose to set up in the UK.

Inevitably, though, most of this cash will go to multi-national, multibillion-pound companies. While they may provide jobs, will these firms pay their fair share of tax?

Small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) are often described as the engine house of our economy.

Whatever happened to the 100 per cent tax allowances on machinery, bought many months before an expected return on investment?

This particular allowance would be of real benefit to SME manufacturers, as I know from experience.

President of the Board of Trade Liam Fox claims UK companies are too lazy to export — what about some government help?

All too often, UK governments throw money at new firms to come to this country, while existing businesses are denied the same aid. GEORGE COPELAND,

Wokingham, Berks.