Contributions
715 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Business RatesYes, we will continue to work with pubs, because we do value them. I want to be clear, however, that we value all of the businesses on the high street. We value our hospitality…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesI will continue to keep those important cultural and social assets in mind as we work on our policy for supporting businesses across the country.27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesI thank my hon. Friend for his representations on behalf of businesses in his constituency. The Government are clear that we will look at the pub and hotel methodologies…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesWe are, in the usual way, using long-standing definitions set out in business rates guidance to define pubs, and similar venues to which the relief will apply.27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesI hope that I will be out of trouble before too long. We will double the hospitality support fund, providing £10 million of funding over the next three years. That fund aims to…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesAs a London MP, I do not get the joy of staying in a hotel in my hon. Friend’s constituency—instead, I get the joy of the Northern line on the route home. She asks an important…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesWe will not be considering the Liberal Democrats’ policy.27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesVery much so. We want to support legendary landlords. I have my own in my constituency, and I look forward to having a pint with them this weekend to discuss the changes that the…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesI thank my hon. Friend for his advocacy on behalf of the pubs and businesses in his constituency. Concerns have been raised about the methodology. We have looked into that in…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesThis Government want the best for Britain’s high streets. We know how central they are to the strength and vibrancy of our villages, towns and cities. We know how hard small…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesBecause of the concerns around the methodology to value hotels, today we have announced that we will review that methodology so that, in time for the next revaluation, hotels can…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesI thank my hon. Friend for his engagement, persistence and advocacy on behalf of the businesses in his constituency. I know that he has had many conversations with businesses in…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesThere is a significant overlap between the pub sector and live music venues. Many pubs serve as grassroots live music venues, with the result that they are often valued in a…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesWe have changed the tax rates, the multipliers, within the system so that a typical high street business may now pay 38p in the pound and an online retail giant may pay 51p in the…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesI would be happy to discuss that matter with my hon. Friend. Indoor play is a really valuable and growing part of our economy, but there are challenges. With more free childcare,…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesI am sure that the consequentials and their implications will be set out as soon as is practically possible.27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesMr Speaker, I will wrap up very quickly, and I apologise again. This Government also understand that things are not easy out there. Today’s announcement is about additional…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesMay I apologise, Mr Speaker, for not letting you know in advance that the statement would be running over 10 minutes?27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesLet me apologise profusely for not letting you know in advance, Madam Deputy Speaker. This is the first time I have done one of these statements, and I will not make the same…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Business RatesIt is just not credible for the shadow Chancellor to say that he would scrap business rates. What did the Conservatives do over the 14 years that they were in power? They kept…27 Jan 2026