A WHARFEDALE MP has criticised the new Enterprise Bill for not offering enough support to small businesses.

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) described small firms as "the driving force of our economy" during the Bill's second reading in the House of Commons last week.

He urged ministers to give the proposed Small Business Commissioner more power to enforce its recommendations following complaints from smaller businesses – and to punish large companies that repeatedly made late payments.

Mr Mulholland also questioned why banks, which had been bailed out by the taxpayer to the tune of billions of pounds, were being exempted from the public sector exit payment cap.

He said: "It is clear the Enterprise Bill does not go far enough for small businesses.

"The commissioner will not have real teeth to enforce its recommendations or tackle late payments, the Government has sent a clear message that it won’t prioritise green projects and, outrageously, bankers bailed out by the taxpayer are exempt from the public sector payments cap, while teachers, nurses and police officers are included.

"Coming just after the revelation ministers have let off Google with paying only three per cent tax, this Conservative Government seems to be on the side of big corporations and not the thousands of small businesses across Britain."