The Retail Motor Industry has sent its list of requests for inclusion in Chancellor Darling’s Budget in the spring.

The trade body urged Darling to look at further measures to help safeguard the future of the motor industry.

Paul Williams, Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) chairman, said: “A reform of the current fiscal rules is essential, and they should be far less dependent upon a subjective assessment of the current economic cycle.

“Above all, the Government must concentrate on measures that will revive confidence in the UK economy. Consumer and business confidence needs to be boosted to allow for recovery in the UK. It is also important that tax on businesses is set at the lowest possible level.

“Companies need to be able to afford to continue investing in their businesses as well as to be able to maintain staffing levels.”

The letter sets out 12 major concerns for the retail motor industry which the RMIF believe need to be addressed in the Budget, including: a reduction in small business corporation tax, a business rate relief and the complete scrapping of the first registration “showroom tax”.