Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

High Street Outlets

Thursday 30 November 2023 · 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 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Rupa Huq questioned the impact of out-of-town retail on high streets, citing the closure of several businesses in Ealing and Acton.
  • The Minister stated that local authorities must be cautious when granting planning permission for out-of-town shopping centres to avoid pressure on high streets.
  • Alistair Strathern highlighted the decline of his constituents' high street, noting the loss of essential services like post offices and banking facilities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Housing Business & Trade Local Government
Context

The questioner noted the decline of well-known brands such as Debenhams, Wilko, and Paperchase in town centres. She highlighted that out-of-town retail incentivisation is a contributing factor to this issue.

Question

What steps she is taking to encourage businesses to open outlets on high streets. The vanishing of Debenhams, Wilko and Paperchase has left huge holes in our town centres—I have lost a Wilko in both Ealing and Acton. Analysis shows that the incentivisation of out-of-town retail is the culprit.

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

I do not accept that, although out- of-town shopping can put pressure on the high street. Local authorities have to be very careful when they give planning consent for out-of-town shopping centres that could put pressure on the high street.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about actions to counteract out-of-town retail incentivisation was not addressed

How: Did Not Accept, Local Authorities Have Responsibility

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Q2 Alistair Strathern Lab Hitchin
Business & Trade
Context

The questioner highlighted the loss of post offices and banking facilities in Flitwick, indicating a broader issue affecting towns across his constituency due to high cost pressures.

Question

My constituents in Flitwick have been dismayed over the past few years as their high street has been gradually hollowed out, losing much-loved businesses and, recently, both their post office and banking facilities. Sadly, that is far too familiar for people in towns and villages across my constituency, where businesses are weighed down by high cost pressures and a business rate system that no longer seems fit for purpose or fair. When will the Government commit to bringing forward the comprehensive business rates reform that my businesses are crying out for?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and welcome him to his place in the House. Of course, we are very concerned about the high street. The pressures on the high street are largely caused by changing consumer habits, but the Government have stepped in to ease pressures, such as through the £20 billion energy bill support scheme and the £17 billion business rate package.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about comprehensive business rates reform was not directly addressed

How: Changing Consumer Habits

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Q3 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Economy Business & Trade Local Government
Context

The questioner noted the decline of well-known brands such as Debenhams, Wilko, and Paperchase in town centres. She highlighted that out-of-town retail incentivisation is a contributing factor to this issue.

Question

The vanishing of Debenhams, Wilko and Paperchase has left huge holes in our town centres—I have lost a Wilko in both Ealing and Acton. Analysis shows that the incentivisation of out-of-town retail is the culprit. Labour has a five-point plan to revive our high streets, putting communities first. What are the Government doing about all this?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

I do not accept that, although out-of-town shopping can put pressure on the high street. Local authorities have to be very careful when they give planning consent for out-of-town shopping centres that could put pressure on the high street.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about actions against out-of-town retail incentivisation was not addressed

How: Did Not Accept, Local Authorities Have Responsibility

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Q4 Alec Shelbrooke Con Wetherby and Easingwold
Housing Local Government
Context

The questioner raised concerns about Leeds City Council's decision to introduce parking charges in the market town of Wetherby, which currently has no such charges.

Question

Labour-run Leeds City Council has decided that it wants to bring parking charges to my market town of Wetherby—it currently has no parking charges. Does my hon. Friend agree that the investments we are making are all very well, but if local authorities make it harder for shoppers by increasing their costs, that will choke off the high street rather than help it?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

I thank my right hon. Friend for his question and he is absolutely right to say that some local authorities see parking charges as potential revenue raisers, but this is in effect a tax on business. Local authorities can, of course, make charges where appropriate, but they should only cover the cost of maintaining those car parks; they should not be a punitive tax on businesses.

Answered
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Q5 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Economy Taxation
Context

The questioner suggested that there are streets in the west end of London that would benefit from tourists being able to reclaim VAT.

Question

There are streets in the west end of this city, important to our economy, that would certainly benefit from the ability of tourists to reclaim VAT, aren't there?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

My right hon. Friend raises an important point that this Department has looked at carefully. We are concerned about the impact of the withdrawal of that tax concession on businesses, not just for these businesses themselves, but for the other businesses that rely on foreign visitors—I am talking about hoteliers, restauranteurs and so on. We are keen to look at this matter. The Chancellor committed in his autumn statement to review the evidence to see what impact this was having.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about tourist VAT reclaim ability was not directly addressed

How: Department Has Looked Carefully, Review The Evidence

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