BUSINESSES in Hyndburn have reacted angrily after receiving government letters about Employment Allowance, according to Graham Jones MP.

The Labour MP has written a letter to the secretary of state for communities and local government, Eric Pickles.

In it he said: “The Prime Minister recently wrote to 1.9 million companies in the UK, at taxpayers’ expense, regarding the employment allowance.

“The letter itself is an unnecessary use of public money. The only useful information communicated on the letter is the address for the website where more information is available.

“The rest is nothing other than Tory spin paid for by taxpayers. Several businesses in my constituency have contacted me, absolutely outraged at the use of public money for this purpose.

“As someone who has publicly denounced this practice in the past, I look forward to your reasoned opinion on this matter.”

The Employment Allowance came into effect on April 6, and claims to give 1.25 million businesses and charities up to £2,000 off their National Insurance contributions.

Prime Minister David Cameron wrote to almost two million firms and charities to remind them to check if they are entitled to the cash back – which most businesses can claim by simply ticking a box on their payroll software when they submit it.