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<ul><li>The Government recognises the great contribution the retail industry makes
to the economy, to employment and to communities. We are in regular touch with the
British Retail Consortium and major retailers on a wide range of policy issues, including
those raised in the report.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The report shows that the retail
sector is going through a period of major adjustment as it is responds to developments
such as changing demography and consumer preferences, and automation and digital technology.</li></ul><p>
</p><ul><li>Government has supported business, including retailers by taking action
to help employers and workers to improve productivity, including raising the Annual
Investment Allowance to £200,000 to its highest ever permanent level, reducing national
insurance contributions for small firms, going further by cutting corporation tax
to 18% in 2020 for all companies, and significantly increasing investment in apprenticeships.</li></ul><p>
</p><ul><li>At the same time, the government is making sure workers in Britain get
a pay rise by introducing the National Living Wage from April this year. Now is the
right time to do this as we are seeing record employment rates and more than 2 million
jobs created since 2010. And taking into account the National Living Wage the independent
Office of Budget Responsibility expects employment to rise by a further 1.1 million
by 2020.</li></ul><p> </p>
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