Economic News

TOKYO (AFX) - The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to introduce as early as next spring a new type of loan for small and midsize firms that does not require the business owner to become a personal guarantor, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported over the weekend. The move is aimed at encouraging launching of businesses by entrepreneurs. Currently, most loans made to small and midsize com ...

A think-tank has called for outdated copyright laws to be rewritten to take account of new ways people listen to music, watch films and read books. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is calling for a "private right to copy". It would decriminalise millions of Britons who break the law each year by copying their CDs onto music players. Making copies of CDs and DVDs for personal use would have little impact on copyright holders, the IPPR argues. Copyright issues have, in the past, ...

Environment Secretary David Miliband has confirmed the government is holding discussions on tackling climate change using green taxes. He refused to confirm details, shown in a leaked letter, which may include "pay as you drive", cheap-flight taxes and levies on energy-wasting appliances. He told Sky News that "the longer we wait, the more costly it will be". Meanwhile Conservative leader David Cameron has told the BBC he would be prepared to tax air travel. Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menz ...

Simon Walters, Mail on Sunday29 October 2006 Secret plans for a multi-billion-pound package of stealth taxes on fuel, cars, air travel and consumer goods have been drawn up by the Government to combat global warming. GOING GREEN: The Government is drawing up plans to make us combat global warming WANT TO KNOW MORE? REPORT: Do green tariffs help the planet? BILLS: Switch and save REPORT: Profit from the green revolution POLL: How green are you? OTHER STORIES City pay  ...