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Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill 2025-03-31
31 March 2025
Lead MP
Jim McMahon
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
NHSEducationEconomyTaxationNorthern Ireland
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
Jim McMahon raised concerns about non-domestic rating (multipliers and private schools) bill 2025-03-31 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Government are committed to addressing the uncertainty of temporary RHL relief by introducing permanent lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses from April 2026. The Bill provides a higher multiplier for properties with a rateable value at or above £500,000 to fund these cuts sustainably within the business rates system. It also removes charitable rate relief from private schools to raise revenue for education. The amendments proposed by the Lords are unnecessary as similar powers already exist in the Bill.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
The Conservative Party criticises Labour's approach, arguing that it punishes aspiration, increases business rates, and adds to consumers' costs. It opposes the higher multiplier on healthcare settings as it contradicts the Government’s pledge to fund the NHS through national insurance hikes. The amendments for anchor stores exempting from a higher multiplier are vital for supporting high streets and preventing empty shopfronts.
Robin Swann
UUP
South Antrim
The UUP supports Conservative arguments, questioning the logic of taxing healthcare premises while increasing national insurance to fund the NHS. He highlights that the Government’s approach undermines community health initiatives and creates fiscal confusion.
Vikki Slade
LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Welcomes the business rates reform but is deeply concerned about the proposals for hospitals. Proposes that the Bill should exclude hospitals to avoid local councils having to take difficult decisions regarding hospital funding. Expresses concerns over businesses on the cusp of the £500,000 threshold and supports Lords amendments to remove private schools from legislation due to the financial burden it imposes on parents.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Supports concerns regarding hospitals and medical/dental schools but focuses primarily on private schools, arguing that faith-based education should not be punished financially. Believes the tax raid will adversely affect those who cannot afford to pay increased fees and may lead some parents to consider home-schooling as a financial necessity.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
He acknowledges that the previous system provided uncertainty to businesses. However, he criticises the solution presented by the Minister as it levies extra taxes on high street stores, large department stores, supermarkets, football stadiums and many others, which are not online giants.
Jim McMahon
Lab
Rooley
The rating system adequately reflects the scale of properties. Less than 1% of properties in the business rates system will use the higher multiplier to fund tax breaks for those on the high street that will use lower multipliers.
Government Response
The Bill aims to introduce permanent lower tax rates for RHL businesses, end temporary relief uncertainties, fund tax cuts sustainably within the business rate system through a higher multiplier for properties with a rateable value of £500,000 or more. It also removes charitable rate relief from private schools to support education funding. The Minister rejects Lords amendments as they duplicate existing powers in the Bill.
Shadow Response
Kevin Hollinrake
Shadow Response
The Conservative Party critiques Labour's proposals for creating uncertainty, increasing costs on businesses and consumers. It opposes higher multipliers on healthcare premises and anchor stores as these policies contradict the Government’s pledges to fund NHS through national insurance hikes while simultaneously taxing health services.
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Assessment & feedback
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