Bath MP, Don Foster has welcomed latest figures which show that over a thousand employers in Bath are already benefitting from a new Government initiative.
Over 1.7 million more people are in work since 2010. But the government wants to boost that number further. Introduced in April 2014, the Employment Allowance is designed to help by giving businesses a reduction of up to £2,000 on their Employer Class 1 NI bills.
Figures released by HM Treasury show that there are 1,500 Employment Allowance Take-Up employers in Bath, and 1,400 in North East Somerset.
Commenting, Don Foster, said: “This is another example of the Lib Dems building a stronger economy, and a fairer society. It is good to see that so many employers in Bath are already taking advantage of the Employment Allowance and employment in Bath has continued to rise.”
Nationally, 856,000 employers have already claimed the Employment Allowance only six months after its introduction. This represents 68% of the 1.25m estimated to be eligible.
The Government estimates that, as a result of the Employment Allowance, up to £500,000 small businesses and charities will pay no employer National Insurance Contributions at all this financial year.
Lib Dem PPC for Bath Steve Bradley, said: “Bath has a rich history of being a strong business city, with a good mix of chain shops and local, independent businesses. It is great that so many employers have already taken up the Employment Allowance and I urge more to do so.”
Don Foster added: “I would urge employers who have not yet made a claim, to do so as soon as possible by visiting www.gov.uk/employment-allowance and find out how to have their NI Bill reduced.”