This would end the unfair advantage that the emerging economies have. In fact this has to be done to stop China in particular, which has stated that it aims to end ‘Western economic preeminence’. Those who object to tariffs on the grounds that they feel it restricts competition and choice, need to understand that while sweatshop wages undermine Western wages, there is no choice or competition.

On the matter of the BACS report, I’m sure you will find any information you need on the BACS website. Interesting that you claim the BACS report wasn’t balanced when you say you haven’t read it? Do you claim to have a more extensive pool of reference resources on cashflow than BACS?

Most small enterprises on the other hand have no choice but to employ local labour and you should be celebrating that fact instead of denigrating the owners. It is unlikely that we will agree on this only time will tell which of us is right.

You haven’t answered my main question on where you got access to the BACS report and if there is a web link or address where I can obtain a copy from. I want to know whether this report was balanced because I don’t believe it was.

“It is the very fractious nature of our economy that has kept both big business and the unions at bay over the past 20 years”

You make a very telling statement confirming that British business is disorganized and lacks the unity of purpose needed to work as one to compete against foreign business. As long as our national economy lacks any sort of strength in numbers we shall continue to see foreign goods filling the stores while our people, who could be making these wares themselves, languish on benefits in the millions.

You also make a very important point with regard to the Conservative party’s position on this. There is no doubt in my mind that many in the party still fear a revival of British manufacturing because of the implications for organized labour, a militant hard-left, and increased financial support for the Labour party.

Likewise I do not want to see a return to the days of Red Robbo and others of that ilk. However that is an issue that has to be countered through trade union reform and the de-politicization of all unions, with ultimately trades unions replaced by guilds comprised of workers representatives, management and government. Providing the organized approach to make British business competitive.

We must not allow fear of organized labour to stand in the way of economic revival. Mistakes were made in the 1970s, the unions were undemocratic and represented ideological goals rather than the best interests of workers. The shift to a union-free service economy has not been the panecea that many predicted. Our economy is now seriously unbalanced with too many services and too little manufacturing and agriculture. We need to restore that balance and not let ideological fear of organized labour get in the way.

Rather than the support that you seem to be requesting for larger organisations in the future of a British economy I believe it would be better to have a national settlement day every month where all businesses are contractually obliged to settle all outstanding invoices at the same time. If businesses were unable to meet these obligations then their insolvency would be highlighted much sooner and it would remove the threat of other SME’s trading with those which are poorly managed.

Calling SME’s “fly by night lightweight enterprises” is paying them a diservice which I take as an afront to the many entrepreneurs that I know and value.

During the 70′s when many of our services were met by large nationalised organisations we were held to randsom regularly by unions and corporations alike. It is the very fractious nature of our economy that has kept both big business and the unions at bay over the past 20 years and I for one do not wish to return to closed shops, 3 day weeks, blackouts, being told you’ve got to wait three months for a phone line and ever rising prices.

“Despite acknowledging the extent of the problems late payments cause, 63% of SMEs admit that they had failed to pay at least one invoice on time, creating a perpetual circle of bad debt that is undermining UK businesses”

“For those that do manage to stay afloat, late payments have a considerable impact on day-to-day running and long-term business viability. 10% will not be able to pay their workforce if payment is a week late, while 38% of businesses with late payment difficulties struggle to pay their own bills on time”

I believe we are on the verge of widescale SME collapse once the credit crunch takes full effect. The fact is SMEs are too small to weather shortfalls in cashflow. This makes our economy highly vulnerable.

The post recessionary economy must have a more solid structure with local trade associations established to bring smaller businesses together, with tax incentives to encourage the growth of conglomerates.

All regulation opposed to mergers must be swept away by a Conservative government, irrespective of pressures from the EU and other international forums.

While it is true that even conglomerates can fail if poorly managed, their size and pooled resources make such associations more able to survive the storms and stresses of restricted liquidity.

Our nation needs longstanding solid performers rather than relying on fly-by-night lightweight enterprise to serve as the base for our economy.

The draw back to ‘conglomerates’ is that they have the power to hold you to ransom.

This country needs innovate SME’s to push boundaries, show how to control costs, try out and introduce new technology rather than stagnating (as is being suggested that the Royal Mail have been guilty of). They are the engine of growth in the economy and when they are being suffocated we all lose.

The pottery industry wasn’t small they conglomerated and now they’re all shutting down, the car and van industry wasn’t small and still can’t compete on the world stage.

In another model – Woolworths for example had many profitable stores but got dragged down because it was a conglomerate.

By a national business strategy do you intend to force small businesses to merge when they get to a certain size? Or should a group of cafe’s all come under one umbrella brand and not stay unique.

JCB and Dysons started as a small enterprise and remains a none conglomerate exporting all over the world.

Considering that this sector represents almost half the entire UK economy and is accountable for over a quater of all UK employment I think it fair that we express concern over the future role/strategy of SMEs.

While continuing to offer support to small business, we should also be looking to strengthen our economic base by govt support for a more conglomerate-based economy.

There are areas in which business concerns can cross-over and this will allow British business to consolidate, to grow in strength, and corner access to our domestic market, in contrast to the current situation in which British business is too small, scattered, disorganized, and cannot compete against foreign business.

A national business strategy is essential if we are to become a nation of producers again, able to recover access to our home market, providing the jobs and services that our nation needs.

The last time I looked it was several large business concerns reporting huge losses contributing to the credit crunch – when one individual SME goes down nobody blinks (other than their family). However, Woolworths; LDV; Jaguar/Land Rover all were exposed due to their use of credit. Large house builders have had to refinance due to over borrowing. Then of course there are the true culprits such as RBS, Halifax, not SME’s by any stretch, who between them have left this Country reeling from their excess. I can’t recall a time when a Prime Minister has had to rise to his feet in the Houses of Parliament and report that Mr Smith the corner baker in some small town has gone into administration!

Reply: I have caught up now, and haven’t found the item.

Reply: because I have been very busy and there are so many comments