COMPANIES in Oxfordshire are being asked to identify the key issues facing their business, as part of a new lobbying initiative by the county's Chamber of Commerce.

The Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry is preparing a business manifesto to direct its lobbying work with Government, MPs and local councils.

It will build on the general election manifesto drawn up by the British Chambers of Commerce, using the experience of local companies and reflecting their concerns.

Chamber chairman John Naish said: "We have a clear vision of what we need from national Government. Now we want to add to that the detailed concerns facing companies in Oxfordshire.

"Our day-to-day dealings with local businesses mean we know that transport, red tape, and business crime will feature.

"Now we are looking to local companies to highlight particular problems and and any suggestions on how they can be tackled.

"This might be particular roads where congestion is a major problem, difficulties they have had with planning regulations hampering their development, unnecessary or unfair regulations affecting their business sector or ideas they may have about tackling Oxfordshire's skills and people shortage.

"We are starting this consultation with a blank sheet of paper and giving local business the chance to have a direct say in our lobbying activities for the next five years."

Key national business issues the Chambers have set out include:

Government must maintain a stable macro- economic policy

Reduce business taxation

Cut business payroll costs

Reduce and simplify regulation and red tape

Support business training to NVQ standards

Invest in transport and infrastructure

Modernise the planning system

Deliver Terminal 5 at Heathrow.

Drop workplace parking charges

Ensure that business support is business-led

Businesses are asked to e-mail their comments to policy@thamesvalleychamber.co.uk or write to Manifesto, Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry, North Oxford Business Centre, 18 Lakesmere Close, Kidlington OX5 1LG.