things economically, there is always huge scope to cut or raise taxes, or spending, and then there is what his room for manoeuvre is within his self—imposed targets. we must be clear on this. a government's finances are completely unlike a household finance. we live in a currency where the government issues currency, we cannot do that, ferns cannot do that, whereas the government issues a currency and has a lot more freedom than us. not many of us have a money printing press in our front rooms. of us have a money printing press in ourfront rooms. but of us have a money printing press in our front rooms. but the chancellor must calculate his own self—imposed targets so wriggle room is against those, and those are a political judgment. they are based on what the government thinks the markets will wear. just like in the mini budget wear. just like in the mini budget we had last year, there seemed to be no constraints on what the government will blow on tax cuts, for example, so the markets will react badly. the real wiggle room in this, we are unlikely to see a cut in national insurance.— this, we are unlikely to see a cut in national insurance. while we are talkin: , in national insurance. while we are talking. we — in national insurance. while we are talking, we sought _ in national insurance. while we are talking, we sought the _ in national insurance. while we are talking, we sought the chancellor i talking, we sought the chancellor leaving number 11 and make his way to westminster, he will be in the commons outlining all the details of tax and spending plans for the year ahead in the autumn statement. we will continue our conversation. the chancellor has to do a balancing act here because there are so many competing pressures. he needs to keep an ion inflation so does not want to stoke inflation again just as it... he needs to placate backbenchers, he must take and i on economic growth and he also has to deliver something that will win voters back to the conservative party, they are trailing in the polls. a lot of competing interests. hard to know what he can offer to deliver all of those needs right now. ., , ., ., deliver all of those needs right now. ., , ., now. one thing that is good for him in a way is — now. one thing that is good for him in a way is that _ now. one thing that is good for him in a way is that the _ now. one thing that is good for him in a way is that the amount - now. one thing that is good for him in a way is that the amount of - in a way is that the amount of spending the office for budget responsibility thought the government had been doing back in march has turned out to be a lot less, partly because energy bills came down so sharply, so the government was spending a smaller amount than expected subsidising those. they will be slightly better economic growth than the government was expecting, meaning more tax receipts. the other reason he can offer some tax—cut or the talk that he will cut national insurance is because we have been paying so much of it. if he does cut national insurance, that will be our money we are getting back, because that its fiscal drag. if you hold the threshold above which people pay tax and freeze it and it does not go above inflation, and more of people's wagers are subject to tax. it is that windfall government has seen the benefit of over the last 12 months. the office for budget responsibility will probably reflect that and it will seem like the government has more scope within its target to do more to boost the economy, for example, by handing some of what it has taken off us back through things like cut in national insurance. but if there is a downgrade in economic growth in the next year, that means less tax money rolling in. if there is less economic growth, that means less vat and income tax coming in and that gives the chance a lot less scope. there will be some moves to boost consumer confidence and even boost the government's popularity in the 12 months ahead of when it has to hold another general election. we will let you go and crunch those numbers. we will talk to you later in the day. got a sense of what those announcements mean. we will answer your questions later today in answer your questions later today in a special edition of your questions answered so send them in in the usual ways. answered so send them in in the usualways. now answered so send them in in the usual ways. now the founder of small business britain, michelle, good to have you with us. 5.5 million small firms in this country, what do they want to hear on the chancellor today? want to hear on the chancellor toda ? ~ . . ~ want to hear on the chancellor toda ?~ ., ., ~ ., want to hear on the chancellor toda ? ~ ., ., ~ ., ., today? we have talked about extra headroom. today? we have talked about extra headroom- it _ today? we have talked about extra headroom. it is _ today? we have talked about extra headroom. it is about _ today? we have talked about extra headroom. it is about how - today? we have talked about extra headroom. it is about how much i today? we have talked about extra headroom. it is about how much of that can go to small businesses, and there are a number of things that are at the top of my list, and we know from our research, it is 76% looking for more government support. top of the list of course is that 75% help with business rates and thatis 75% help with business rates and that is helping premises, retail, hospitality. that is due to end in april next year and is linked to inflation, so businesses are looking at a bit of a cliff edge, a big cost next april that we would like to see extended, that will make a difference to a lot of businesses. we have had a little bit already on the impact on late payments. whisperings on things that will be announced, difficult to see that with regulations but we would legacy leadership —— we would like to see leadership —— we would like to see leadership on this. relief on late payment would be great. we have had in the last day or so about tax relief for investments for businesses, which is great. the challenge of course with that is you need to finance to invest and one thing we hear repeatedly from small businesses is the challenge to get finance to grow, scale up finance. government backed start—up loans had been incredibly successful. we have seen 100,000 loans go out but we want to seascape up loans. small scale government backed loans for businesses to make those investments and start growing. we are talking a lot about growth, how can we help those small businesses to grow? and i think that is what small businesses would love to hear today. let us get your thoughts on a couple of things we do know will be in this autumn statement because a lot is just speculation until we hear from the chancellor, we know a boost to the chancellor, we know a boost to the minimal wage, the national living wage, rising by more than £1, to £11 lbs —— living wage, rising by more than £1, to £11 lbs -- £11 living wage, rising by more than £1, to £11 lbs —— £11 four per hour. 0ne to £11 lbs —— £11 four per hour. one would assume it adds to their cost, doesn't it? j~ ., ., ., ., doesn't it? 4.8 million do not have staff, so doesn't it? 4.8 million do not have staff. so bear— doesn't it? 4.8 million do not have staff, so bear that _ doesn't it? 4.8 million do not have staff, so bear that in _ doesn't it? 4.8 million do not have staff, so bear that in mind. - doesn't it? 4.8 million do not have staff, so bear that in mind. lots. doesn't it? 4.8 million do not have staff, so bear that in mind. lots of| staff, so bear that in mind. lots of small businesses do have staff, most art micro businesses so will have less than ten employees. 0ne art micro businesses so will have less than ten employees. one thing we hear a lot from small businesses is their staff are often their family, and they care about them and they know how employees have been affected by costs and inflation going up and that is close to their hearts. it is a mixed message. yes, costs are going up in a world where we have seen costs go up across the board. and we are talking about inflation being half, it means the costs are going up slower, it does not mean they are going down for small businesses. but it tends to be in our experience one of the costs that small businesses do not rail against so much because they recognise how important it is to look after their staff. you recognise how important it is to look after their staff.— look after their staff. you are riaht, look after their staff. you are right. and — look after their staff. you are right. and it _ look after their staff. you are right, and it is _ look after their staff. you are right, and it is worth - look after their staff. you are right, and it is worth making | look after their staff. you are - right, and it is worth making that point about inflation falling but it still means prices are rising but less quickly. michelle, your thoughts on a cut potentially in national insurance? would not have all the details on whether it is the threshold or the headline rate of that will be cut, that will help bring costs down for businesses and a boost for employees? it bring costs down for businesses and a boost for employees?— bring costs down for businesses and a boost for employees? it depends on whether it is — a boost for employees? it depends on whether it is employee _ a boost for employees? it depends on whether it is employee contributions l whether it is employee contributions going up. if it is employee contributions, it does not affect small businesses, but if staff are happy, brilliant. if it is employer contributions, brilliant, and small businesses would appreciate that, the helping hand at recognising the role they play as massive employers. we would love to see a reduction in employer national insurance, for sure. . ~' employer national insurance, for sure. ., a . sure. thank you, michelle. whether there will be — sure. thank you, michelle. whether there will be anything _ sure. thank you, michelle. whether there will be anything in _ sure. thank you, michelle. whether there will be anything in that - there will be anything in that budget to give a bit of a boost to those 5.5 million small businesses. with me in westminster is the general secretary of the tuc. good to have you with us. we are starting to have you with us. we are starting to get a few details, designed, one would assume, to get more support for the conservatives going into a general election. will it be enough? i do not think it will be enough. there will be gimmicks, but not a long—term plan to get the economy growing, people's wages growing and a plan to rebuild is public services. i'm not surprised because the conservatives have been in power for 13 years and if they had the answers, we would have heard about them before today. the answers, we would have heard about them before today.— them before today. the prime minister and _ them before today. the prime minister and chancellor - them before today. the prime minister and chancellor both | them before today. the prime - minister and chancellor both saying this is an autumn statement designed to reward hard work. those in work and working should be better off than those who are simply choosing to claim benefit. that is a step in the right direction, isn't it? that does not reflect _ the right direction, isn't it? that does not reflect the _ the right direction, isn't it? t�*isgt does not reflect the reality out there. if they had accepted the recommendations from employers and unions,... wages are not going up. 70% of kids in poverty have at least one parent working and i do not like the language of dividing widening people and those who are reliant on benefits and tax credits. we know there is a real issue, a crisis in our health service, for example, and i do not think we have heard anything about support for public services, local councils. this is a government long on rhetoric and short on delivering. fine government long on rhetoric and short on delivering.— short on delivering. one of the thins he short on delivering. one of the things he has _ short on delivering. one of the things he has focused - short on delivering. one of the things he has focused on - short on delivering. one of the things he has focused on is - short on delivering. one of thej things he has focused on is the fiscal drag, more of us being dragged in tax categories because of the threshold is not changing. that proves to be a difficult thing to work, and that is why it is such a problem. why would you take on extra work to pay more tax? mat; problem. why would you take on extra work to pay more tax?— work to pay more tax? way incentives work to pay more tax? way incentives work is to get — work to pay more tax? way incentives work is to get paid — work to pay more tax? way incentives work is to get paid rising _ work to pay more tax? way incentives work is to get paid rising again. - work is to get paid rising again. the government does not have a plan on wages and it is doing the opposite, attacking trade unions, it is anti—strike legislation will make it hard to win pay rises for workers and if the government was serious about getting people into work, it would be talking to unions and employers about what the practical policies would be to deliver that. we have all the familiar rhetoric around benefit scroungers, and that does not help one single person get back into work. the does not help one single person get back into work.— back into work. the rhetoric from number it — back into work. the rhetoric from number 11 and _ back into work. the rhetoric from number 11 and number _ back into work. the rhetoric from number 11 and number ten - back into work. the rhetoric from number 11 and number ten is - back into work. the rhetoric from number 11 and number ten is if l back into work. the rhetoric from | number 11 and number ten is if we grow the economy, we all benefit and it is about getting it growing again. forecasts are anaemic, we are avoiding a recession but not by much. if the pile grows, we are all better off. the potential cut to inheritance tax, the chancellor may listen to that being cold tone deaf in a cost—of—living crisis, so raising the living wage, raising national insurance —— producing a national insurance —— producing a national insurance —— producing a national insurance contributions. the idea they were even flirting with cutting inheritance taxes for the birds. we will not hear a plan to get the economy growing again or money for our public services, which will face brutal cuts, and our... be prime minister actually cut the largest infrastructure in this country in hs2. after 13 years, they have run out of ideas and the british public will run out of patience. british public will run out of patience-— british public will run out of atience. ., ., , ., ., patience. paul, really good to have ou with patience. paul, really good to have you with us- _ patience. paul, really good to have you with us- as _ patience. paul, really good to have you with us. as we _ patience. paul, really good to have you with us. as we said, _ patience. paul, really good to have you with us. as we said, 12:30pm i patience. paul, really good to have| you with us. as we said, 12:30pm is when we will get more detail, there has been plenty of speculation which will continue until then, but the chancellor expected on his feet in the house of commons to deliver that autumn statement. we will have full coverage for you to see whether he can pull any rabbit out of a hat and deliver any gifts ahead of the general election next year, but worth pointing out, the tax burden right now the highest in 70 years and the government say that is the cost of coded mac and meet various issuesit cost of coded mac and meet various issues it has paid out for. tax receipts growing as the economy is on something of a more even keel so that perhaps gives us more wiggle room and room for manoeuvre to deliver gifts ahead of a general election. will he? we will find out later on bbc news. i want to bring you up—to—date with a couple of other main stories we are following bbc news. police enough wales are trying to establish because of a car accident in which four teenage boys died. the boys, from shrewsbury, had been missing from sunday. it is thought they were camping in snowdonia, their vehicle was found upside down and partially submerged in water. 0ur correspondence has the latest feng shui is free. here in water. our correspondence has the latest feng shui is free.— latest feng shui is free. here in shrewsbury, — latest feng shui is free. here in shrewsbury, the _ latest feng shui is free. here in shrewsbury, the reaction - latest feng shui is free. here in shrewsbury, the reaction has i latest feng shui is free. here in . shrewsbury, the reaction has been one of mourning and sadness. these boys, aged between 16 and 18 and their lives have been tragically cut short. here are happy parish church people have been able to come and pay their respects and i am joined ljy pay their respects and i am joined by the reverend here now. just tell me the practice has had on the community. ——just me the practice has had on the community. —— just tell me the impact this has had. community. -- just tell me the impact this has had.— community. -- just tell me the impact this has had. you feel like ou impact this has had. you feel like you dreamt _ impact this has had. you feel like you dreamt yesterday's _ impact this has had. you feel like you dreamt yesterday's awful - impact this has had. you feel like i you dreamt yesterday's awful news and you _ you dreamt yesterday's awful news and you realise it is a reality, it is utterly— and you realise it is a reality, it is utterly devastating and they wear well loved within this community and the wider_ well loved within this community and the wider shrewsbury community. it is a close—knit community, they have gone _ is a close—knit community, they have gone to— is a close—knit community, they have gone to school together since they were four — gone to school together since they were four years old. i think everybody is devastated, and doesn't know what _ everybody is devastated, and doesn't know what to do, really. find everybody is devastated, and doesn't know what to do, really.— know what to do, really. and you did not know them _ know what to do, really. and you did not know them personally, _ know what to do, really. and you did not know them personally, but - know what to do, really. and you did not know them personally, but you i not know them personally, but you know their families, not know them personally, but you know theirfamilies, is not know them personally, but you know their families, is that right? however a feeling? i know their families, is that right? however a feeling?— know their families, is that right? however a feeling? i have not been able to speak _ however a feeling? i have not been able to speak to _ however a feeling? i have not been able to speak to them _ however a feeling? i have not been able to speak to them yet. - however a feeling? i have not been able to speak to them yet. it - however a feeling? i have not been able to speak to them yet. it is - however a feeling? i have not been able to speak to them yet. it is an i able to speak to them yet. it is an incredibly— able to speak to them yet. it is an incredibly private space. the wider community, for sure, has been into the church, — community, for sure, has been into the church, some people yesterday, 'ust the church, some people yesterday, just to _ the church, some people yesterday, just to light a candle and say a prayer— just to light a candle and say a prayer a