High Streets Liverpool Riverside 2025-04-08
2025-04-08
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Liverpool City Region combined authority will receive £900 million from the UK shared prosperity fund to invest in local communities. However, Everton, a part of Kim Johnson's constituency, is the most deprived area in the country and faces challenges due to the closure of Lloyds Bank and Crown post office.
Everton, in my constituency, is the most deprived area in the country, and residents have received a double blow as a result of the imminent closure of Lloyds Bank and the planned closure of the Crown post office. Will the Minister agree to meet me to discuss those closures and the desperate need for a banking hub in the area?
The closure of banking services on our high streets is always a difficult decision. The Government are committed to championing access by rolling out banking hubs across the country. We are committed to delivering 350 of those hubs, and 220 have already been announced. The closure of the post office that my hon. Friend mentions will trigger a further cash access assessment for her constituency. I would be pleased to arrange a meeting for her with the relevant Minister to look at the options for her constituency.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Independent businesses are facing challenges with increased business rates and the introduction of a new jobs tax. The Liberal Democrat spokesperson is concerned about an epidemic of boarded-up shop fronts in the next 12 months.
High streets up and down the land, be they in Liverpool Riverside, St Albans or anywhere else, have just been hit with the double whammy of the jobs tax and higher business rates bills. What steps are Ministers taking to prevent an epidemic of boarded-up shop fronts in the next 12 months, before the new rate comes in next year?
We are committed to supporting independent businesses and retailers on the high street. The change to employer national insurance contributions was designed to support smaller businesses in our country; over 50% of businesses will pay the same national insurance as before, or less than they did under the previous regime. We are bringing forward permanent deductions in business rate taxation for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector, which will be important for the long-term sustainability of these businesses.
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