AS THE North-East faces a number of challenges in terms of public spending and the role the public sector plays in the region, any future Government should be seeking to increase the numbers of self employed and small businesses.
Increasing the numbers of self employed and new businesses will help achieve the entrepreneurial ambitions of the North-East.
To help achieve this any future Government should repeal Class Four National Insurance contributions as soon as is possible.
This is effectively another form of taxation on the self-employed.
Stuart Thompson, Belmont
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