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The Chancellor Alistair Darling yesterday clearly signalled the Government’s desire to help the self employed and owners of small businesses with a raft of new financial measures.

In his pre-Budget report, Darling gave a lot of time to small business people, by not only offering small business owners and the self employed “all the time that they need” to hand in their tax assessments, but by also promising that banks would help with better loans and mortgages.

Many small businesses have been suffering of late thanks to a lack of credit from the banks.

Darling says: “We are closely monitoring this commitment by banks to treat business customers fairly and decently. I will take whatever action is necessary to make sure this happens.”

Darling says the Government has agreed a £4bn deal with the European Investment Bank to provide money to the banks to pass onto small business. He says £1bn will be on offer from the end of 2008.

He adds: “Real help when businesses need it most. I will maintain a focus on the long-term competitiveness of the UK and to increase our attractiveness as a base for global businesses.”

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