THE Chancellor's Autumn Statement must focus on infrastructure investment, encourage innovation and remove barriers to enterprise, a business organisation has warned.

The CBI has issued a raft of demands, which include a reform of business rates, a freeze on air passenger duty airport departure tax for long-haul flights, and a final decision on the guarantee for Somerset's Hinkley Point C power station.

Bosses added they want like to see a supercharging of the research and development tax credit to incentivise the domestic development, commercialisation and manufacture of ideas in the UK, and a prioritising of Government spending on technology and innovation centres.

It says its target proposals would cost "a modest £676m in 2015/16, paid for through public services reform and departmental savings".

John Cridland, CBI director-general, said: "The UK recovery is on solid ground but it's in increasingly stark contrast to what's happening elsewhere in the world.

"With eurozone economies flat-lining, continuing political tension between Russia and Ukraine, and in the Middle-East, and slowing emerging markets, we must be alert to the possible knock-on effects here.

"Businesses recognise the public purse is under pressure, which is why they want the Government to continue tackling the deficit, alongside targeted, affordable measures to keep UK growth motoring now, in the next Parliament, and beyond.

"We know firms are concerned about the state of our roads and energy supply and affordability, so the arrowhead of business recommendations is a major push on improving the country's infrastructure.

"Businesses want to see the Government set out clear project plans, with start dates and timescale

"We also want to see the Government encourage innovation and enterprise by reforming the outdated business rates system, which is a disincentive to company expansion, alongside expanding the research and development tax credit to encourage development, as well as research activity, in the UK.

"And freezing long-haul air passenger duty would help more firms in all UK regions and nations, particularly smaller ones, export their products and services to new growth markets around the world, like Mexico and Indonesia."