Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

High Streets: Government Support

Thursday 12 December 2024 · 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 3 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is working across departments to address antisocial behaviour, crime, and business rates to support high streets.
  • High street rental auctions are being introduced to help local councils bring vacant units back into use.
  • The Government is providing over 1 billion for the British Business Bank to improve access to finance for small businesses.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Ferguson Lab Gateshead Central and Whickham
Economy Community Security Local Government
Context

The question arises from concerns over the state of local high streets and their economic viability.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support high streets?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

Working across government with mayors, local authorities and—crucially—local communities, we are beginning to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime, reforming business rates, working with the banking industry to roll out 350 banking hubs, stamping out late payments, empowering communities to make the most of vacant properties, strengthening the post office network and reforming the apprenticeship levy.

Answered
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Q2 Polly Billington Lab East Thanet
Business & Trade Local Government
Context

The question stems from the new powers delegated to local authorities to deal with empty shop fronts. East Thanet's Ramsgate area has a 24% vacancy rate.

Question

I welcome the new powers delegated to local authorities, enabling them to tackle the blight of empty shop fronts and rejuvenate our local high streets. This will be particularly welcome in East Thanet, where the Ramsgate empty shops action group has been a powerful advocate for addressing this issue. We have a 24% vacancy rate on Ramsgate high street, so what steps are the Government taking to support and encourage local businesses and community projects to take over those vacant properties?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

I commend my hon. Friend on her work with the Ramsgate empty shops action group. High street rental auctions will help local councils to bring vacant units back into use, working with local communities. We are encouraging local authorities to take advantage of those powers.

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Q3 Baggy Shanker Labour (Co-op) Derby South
Business & Trade
Context

The question relates to the new community right to buy and its implementation in Derby.

Question

On Small Business Saturday recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Derby's small businesses. However, empty shops on our high street do not reflect the high-performing, high-technology economy that we are so proud to have in Derby. Building on the new community right to buy, what more can the Department do to ensure that community groups receive the correct business advice and support to use this new right?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

We are determined to establish a small business growth service to provide better support and information to small businesses so that entrepreneurs in this country can take advantage of new powers to set up small businesses on the high street.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for additional measures to ensure correct business advice and support was partially addressed, with a commitment but no concrete details

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Q4 Mark Ferguson Lab Gateshead Central and Whickham
Business & Trade
Context

The question is about improving access to finance for small businesses, especially in light of recent visits to Gateshead.

Question

My hon. Friend will know from his visit to Gateshead this week some of the fantastic small businesses we have on our high street, but also some of the incredible challenges faced by so many high streets and town centres. With that in mind, will he tell us what the Government are doing on access to finance for small businesses?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

One of the things we are determined to do is to increase access to finance for small businesses up and down the country. That is why we have provided over £1 billion across this year and next year for the British Business Bank, particularly to drive access to finance for small businesses.

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Q5 Harriett Baldwin Con West Worcestershire
Business & Trade
Context

The question relates to maintaining the stability and scale of the post office network inherited from previous governments.

Question

One of the ingredients for a successful high street is having a post office in the mix. The Government have inherited a network of 11,500 post offices, and that number has been stable since 2010. Will the Minister commit to supporting high streets by maintaining the scale of the post office network in this Parliament?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

Yes, we are determined to maintain and indeed strengthen the post office network. We are looking at what new commercial opportunities there may be for the Post Office, not least in developing a replacement for the Horizon scheme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for maintaining current scale was partially addressed with no concrete timeline or details provided

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