THE Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) yesterday called on the Chancellor to address skills and business regulation issues.

In its Budget submission to the Treasury on behalf of its 200,000 members, the FSB said the better training of basic skills at school should be an urgent priority for Gordon Brown.

Among its submissions, the FSB also called for lower, simplified taxes, more funding for road and rail improvements, and a tightening of Regulatory Impact Assessments to cut the red-tape burden on businesses

Colin Stratton, FSB regional chairman, said: "Despite ten years in Number 11, there is still a lot that remains to be done in the fields of tax, business support and regulation.

"This final Budget for the Chancellor is an ideal opportunity for him to make a huge difference to the health of the economy by helping small businesses.

"The majority of private sector jobs are in small businesses, and they are waiting for action from the Chancellor following his frequent warm words about entrepreneurship.

"Reductions in tax and regulation for small businesses as well as more effective in- vestment in priority areas, such as basic education, transport infrastructure and business support would boost the economy."