Small firms faced little joy from Chancellor Gordon Brown's Budget as he increased their corporation tax rate from 20p to 22p while reducing the main rate for big companies from 30p to 28p.

Gordon Brown will deliver what is likely to be his last Budget as Chancellor today (March 21) at 12.30.

The Government is spending £12 billion on business support schemes, but can provide no measurable evidence of its effect. That's one of the key findings of the Interim Report produced by an independent Small Business Task Force set up by the Conservatives.

When new Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) begins on April 6 2007, the standard deduction rate will be 20 per cent. The rate is currently 18 per cent under the present arrangements.

A severe shortage of qualified contractors is the single greatest barrier to new construction projects, according to a survey by accountants KPMG LLP.

I am a chippie working through various agencies paid under a MSC at present and need advice on what my best options are as i'm unsure.

With just week left before Gordon Brown opens the Budget Red Box for what is likely to be his last time as Chancellor, small business pressure groups are revealing what they would like to hear him say.

Over the years radical and complex changes have been introduced in VAT law relating to land and construction. VAT expert, Barry Hincks from Qdos Consulting examines the implications of the lower rate of VAT for builders.

A small business representative body has written to the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties urging them to oppose new regulations that would leave small firms burdened with extra responsibilities when having building work carried out.

Last year, Ray O'Rourke, chairman of Laing O'Rourke, caused a storm of protest when he said that a building site "is not a place where women fit".