THE boss of a thriving clothing business has told Chancellor Kenneth Clarke to re-think part of his Budget.

Simon Moyle, chairman of Altham uniform makers Simon Jersey, is angry with Mr Clarke for phasing out profit-related pay by the year 2000.

And he has written to the Chancellor telling him that the effect will be to "de-motivate" his staff.

He said: "The thinking behind PRP was brilliant and has, I'm sure, helped to improve the performance of many companies and at the same time contributed to reducing unemployment.

"But why pull the plug when it is making such a positive impact on industry?"

Simon Jersey, which exports a fifth of its uniforms, has won numerous awards and has grown from humble origins in Accrington town centre to be represented in 26 countries worldwide.

Mr Moyle told the Chancellor: "I am sure you understand that the planned withdrawal of PRP, especially as no alternative has been mentioned, will have a serious de-motivating effect on the 180 people we employ and the other 3.7 million employees presently on the scheme."

Mr Clarke claimed the scheme was not designed to be permanent and had been abused by some employers who used it to keep down basic pay and lower their own tax bills.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.