Earlier today, the Queen set out the government's proposals for the forthcoming parliament in a series of 10 proposed bills.

Included within the speech was a bill to grant additional powers to the Financial Services Authority to curb bonuses, as well as the launch of the Equality Bill that could lead to companies with more than 250 employees disclosing gender pay discrepancy.

In addition, an energy bill was outlined that touted the construction of up to four carbon capture and storage schemes to reduce CO2 emissions.

Under such a scheme, CO2 emissions can be taken and deposited elsewhere, such as within sub-marine oil fields, in order to prevent them reaching the atmosphere.

The FSB said there was a danger that levies charged on energy companies to build these schemes could be passed on to small businesses.

It said: "With the government committed to a low-carbon economy, it is important that any legislation in this area does not hinder small firms through a one-size fits all approach.

"It is essential that any levy placed on the energy suppliers for carbon capture is not passed on to hard-pressed households and small businesses that are already facing increasingly large energy bills."

It added that any reforms in governance of the finance sector must "not be pure political rhetoric" and must improve lending to small businesses.