I WAS pleased to see a very thoughtful letter on your letters page of two weeks ago from Roz Reece about the damage that will be done to so many of our local small businesses if the Labour Chancellor goes ahead with his five per cent tax hike in the business rates.

She is right to say that it would be devastating in its effect on the business community, which is already struggling to survive. I hope that all local councillors, whatever their political allegiance, will join in protesting to the Labour Government against proposing any such increase in the forthcoming budget.

Meanwhile, there is also the the question of what else can be done to help our small businesses at this difficult time.

Many appear not to appreciate that they may well qualify for Small Business Rate Relief.

Over half of small shops, which are entitled, don't claim because they either don't know about it, or find it too complicated to make a claim.

But this relief can, in fact, save them more than £1,000 a year, so it is vital that owners are helped to claim the full amount they are owed.

I am delighted that my Conservative parliamentary colleagues have now promised that if we win the next election we will make the Small Business Rate Relief automatic, scrapping all the forms and the bureacracy.

This will provide the much-needed help straight away and cut the annual fixed overheads each and every year. Now that's what I call supporting local enterprise!

ANGIE BRAY

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Ealing Central and Acton