Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

High Streets: Liverpool Riverside

Tuesday 8 April 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Kim Johnson asked the Minister about the closure of Lloyds Bank and the Crown post office in Liverpool Riverside, highlighting the impact on the deprived area of Everton.
  • The Minister responded that the Government is committed to rolling out banking hubs across the country, with 350 hubs planned, and 220 already announced.
  • Daisy Cooper inquired about steps to prevent high street businesses from closing due to increased business rates and the jobs tax.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kim Johnson Lab Liverpool Riverside
Housing Employment Local Government
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)

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 Daisy Cooper Lib Dem St Albans
Economy Taxation Employment
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)

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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