Ahead of tomorrow’s Autumn Statement, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Business, Innovation and Skills, Gordon Birtwistle has repeated his calls to help British manufacturing by allowing 100% capital allowances on capital purchases.

Commenting, Gordon Birtwistle said:

“If we want to see the kind of economic growth Britain needs then they need to increase manufacturing as a percentage of GDP.

“An introduction of 100% capital allowance on all capital purchases for the next two years will encourage companies to draw on cash reserves to invest in new capital assets.

“Liberal Democrats are committed to closing the skills gap, increasing apprenticeships and delivering key initiatives to help businesses of all size across the country grow and succeed.

“As a party, we have always supported manufacturing and engineering in the UK. In the Coalition Government, Liberal Democrats have made it a priority to increase manufacturing as a percentage of GDP and address the issues which have slowed manufacturing down in recent years.”