ukactive has issued the following statement in response to the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget today (Wednesday 26 November)
Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “Today the Chancellor repeated the Government’s ambitions to take pressure off the NHS and grow the economy, but to achieve these it must go further in supporting the physical activity sector to play its fullest role.
“Ahead of the Budget, ukactive urged the Chancellor not to pile further pressure on our sector and damage its growth by increasing taxes on our members. We therefore welcome the response to reform business rates with a permanently lower multiplier for leisure, retail and hospitality, as well as the decision not to introduce other major tax rises.
“However, the cost increases announced across employment, pensions and smaller taxes will be detrimental for many organisations already enduring high operating costs in an ever increasingly complex tax system. This is particularly concerning given the high number of young people employed by our sector and the role our services play in reducing health inequalities.
“This Budget falls short of backing our sector and recognising its important role in achieving the Government’s stated ambitions of cutting NHS waiting lists and growing the economy.
“Given the importance of physical activity for our national health and economic renewal, the Budget represents an overall missed opportunity to provide a clear plan with pro-growth measures that leverage the expertise and influence of our members to help deliver results.
“The Government must now work with ukactive and our members to co-create the sector plan for investment, growth and renewal that our nation deserves.”
ukactive will continue to assess the details within the Budget and ukactive members will receive full analysis of the Budget and what it means for the sector. Find out more about joining ukactive here.
