Business

This note gives a short introduction to the way VAT works, and the significance of EU VAT law for setting VAT rates, before discussing the campaign for a lower VAT rate on tourist services and the Government's introduction of a temporary 5% rate in July 2020.

Business and Consumer Confidence: Information on business and consumer confidence surveys, which is generally released ahead of official statistical data and can indicate changes to the economic outlook as well as turning points in the economic cycle.

An overview of the development and rollout of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme, the Coronavirus Larger Business Interruption Loans Scheme and the Bounce Back Loans Scheme, including refinements and challenges.

Money laundering, fraud and other economic crime could run to billions of pounds per year in the UK. The Treasury Committee has found various regulatory and legislative failings in the way in which these crimes are being tackled. The Government’s July 2019 Economic Crime Plan draws together all the work being conducted by the public and private sector. The RUSI said that as at September 2020, 23% of actions in the plan had been completed, 59% were in progress, 9% were overdue and 6% either had no due date or had been paused.

This paper collates data on the number of applications and total support provided under the UK Government coronavirus business support schemes. The attached excel spreadsheet allows users to view data by Parliamentary constituency.

An overview of the Government initiatives to support businesses through the coronavirus pandemic.

Manufacturing: Data on manufacturing jobs, output and producer confidence.

Service industries: Data for the sector that incorporates the retail sector, the financial sector, the public sector, business administration and cultural activities.

Retail sales: key indicators on the value of retail sales.

A reading list of resources on the UK's negotiations for trade agreements with the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and on the approach to join the CPTPP.

This briefing sets out the principles of EU rules on state aid and the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing measures.

An overview of how business interruption insurance policies have been interpreted in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

The European Investment Bank lends to projects that contribute to growth and employment within Europe. This briefing gives a short overview of the Bank's membership and operation, and its future relationship with the UK.