HARD-PRESSED businesses in Tayside were given few reasons to cheer, according to Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce.

Chief Executive Alan Mitchell said there was little to give relief to businesses struggling to make ends meet.

Dundee’s manufacturing sector has been decimated in recent months with a series of job losses at major employers such as NCR, Wood Group, Lomax and Texol.

Mr Mitchell said he was struggling to find any new measures that would give incentive or support to businesses.

He said, “Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce expresses its disappointment at the absence of any new measures to support business, particularly hard-pressed SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) and manufacturers.

“The delay of the planned 2p increase in fuel duty until October is welcome, but the Budget contains little else to give business any confidence that the government understands the scale of the challenge that many businesses are facing in the face of rising costs and increasing global competition.”

He continued, “Business in Dundee and Angus will be pleased that the Chancellor has not introduced any new business taxes or burdens and that fuel duty will not be rising in April as planned.

“But they will be even more disappointed that he has not ruled out any future increase in fuel duty when oil prices show absolutely no sign of falling significantly.”

However, Labour’s Dundee West MP Jim McGovern welcomed the Budget for putting families first.

He said, “Today’s Budget is great news for pensioners, families and children.

“I welcome the Budget’s focus on tackling two of the big issues of today—child poverty and climate change.”