Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

High Streets

Monday 13 January 2020 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mike Wood asked the Minister to help Brierley Hill adapt to modern economic challenges, and the Minister confirmed support for the town under the future high street fund.
  • Clive Betts requested a business rate review to address unfairness and consider rebalancing taxes, and the Minister confirmed a comprehensive review would be conducted.
  • Yvette Cooper asked for a meeting to discuss including Knottingley in the towns fund, and the Minister offered to arrange a meeting at her convenience.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mike Wood Con Dudley South
Economy Business & Trade Local Government
Context

Brierley Hill in Dudley South faces competition from nearby retail parks and online shopping.

Question

Towns like Brierley Hill in my constituency have struggled to compete with nearby retail parks, and also increasingly with more shopping moving online. Will the Minister do everything he can to help towns like Brierley Hill adapt to modern economic challenges and make those town centres places where people want to be?

Answer from Jake Berry (Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My right hon. Friend visited Brierley Hill, one of the first 100 places under our future high street fund to receive £150,000 revenue funding to work on exciting plans to ensure high streets are fit for the future. My hon. Friend will be working hard to make sure pubs are protected and we can have micropubs up and down the land.

Answered
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Q2 Clive Betts Lab Chesterfield
Economy Business & Trade Local Government
Context

A Select Committee report from the previous Parliament recommended addressing the imbalance in business rates paid by online retailers compared to high street shops.

Question

The Member requests that the Government commit, as part of their upcoming business rate review, to address this unfairness and consider rebalancing taxes so digital sales contribute more while traditional retail pays less.

Answer from Jake Berry

I confirm that this will be a comprehensive review of business rates. Arguments from the Select Committee report mentioned by the hon. Member, as well as relevant passages in the Conservative manifesto, will be considered.

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Q3 Yvette Cooper Lab Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford
Local Government
Context

The constituency of Knottingley has faced significant public service cuts impacting local shops, a sports centre, library, youth services, among others.

Question

She requests the Minister to arrange a meeting with her and the Secretary of State to discuss including Knottingley in the towns fund for investment in its high street.

Answer from Jake Berry

I am pleased to offer a meeting with the right hon. Lady at her convenience.

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Q4 Barry Sheerman Lab Houghton and Sunderland South
Local Government
Context

Local authorities lack the power to take over notable buildings like the George hotel in Houghton, which is crucial for rugby league heritage.

Question

He asks the Minister to improve the compulsory purchase order process to aid local authorities in preserving and revitalizing significant town centre buildings.

Answer from Jake Berry

The review of the CPO system for our towns will indeed form part of the upcoming planning White Paper, to help address cases like the George hotel in Houghton.

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Q5 Jim McMahon Labour (Co-op) Heywood and Middleton
Economy Housing Business & Trade
Context

More shops are closing than opening in UK high streets and town centres due to a failing business taxation system.

Question

He urges the Government to take decisive steps to address this issue, suggesting the creation of enterprise zones for town centres as an incentive measure.

Answer from Jake Berry

The £3.6 billion towns fund and £13 billion in business rates savings are being deployed to assist businesses, but I will investigate the concept of high street enterprise zones as suggested.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific response to 'fundamental weakness of our business taxation system'

How: Offer To Look Into Suggestion

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