CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown is being urged to appoint a Treasury minister to champion tax simplification.

The call comes from the British Chambers of Commerce organisation in its 2001 pre-Budget submission.

The BCC warns Mr Brown that the complexity of the UK tax system and the cumulative impact of regulation are stifling business competitiveness and job creation.

Mr Richard Bindless, Chief Executive of Bolton and Bury Chamber, said today: "Business owners and managers are spending too much time and money dealing with a mountain of paperwork from tax and other regulatory issues.

"Top priority for the Chancellor must be a simpler tax system which promotes productivity and growth."

The BCC submission calls on the Chancellor to introduce a series of measures which would ease the burden of tax administration on business and improve the system for developing tax law, including:

The appointment of a Treasury minister with specific responsibility for tax simplification.

Introduction of a framework to prevent the tax system developing in its current piecemeal way.

The establishment of a business-led 'Tax Simplification Task Force'.

Introduction of a timetable for the full merger of PAYE and National Insurance systems.

Concessions for small businesses under a certain turnover threshold, who should be allowed, within limits, to nominate when they make their VAT payments in terms of dates and periods.

In its submission to the Chancellor, the BCC raises particular concern about the time and cost pressures faced by small employers who are being forced to act as government's unpaid tax and benefit collectors.

The BCC would like the Chancellor to reduce employers' payroll costs either via compensation or by shifting more of the burden of tax collection to government.

The BCC submission also urges the government to adopt a new approach to regulatory reform, and recommends a package of measures to remove tax anomalies which hinder the UK's 2.3 million sole traders and restrict investment in small, high-growth firms.

A full copy of the BCC's Budget submission, Growth Through Simplicity, is available on request from Briony Simister, Bolton and Bury Chamber's Policy Adviser, on 01204 374618 or e-mail bsimister@chamberhelp.co.uk