Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for Small Businesses

Thursday 12 June 2025 · 4 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Laura Kyrke-Smith raised concerns about traffic, parking, and antisocial behaviour affecting small businesses in Aylesbury.
  • Joe Powell highlighted the issue of illegitimate businesses such as candy shops and souvenir shops evading VAT and business rates in Kensington and Bayswater.
  • Melanie Onn echoed concerns about high streets being dominated by dubious vape shops and unlicensed barbers in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Laura Kyrke-Smith Lab Aylesbury
Community Security Business & Trade
Context

The MP highlighted specific local businesses struggling with issues like traffic, parking and antisocial behaviour. She congratulated the Minister on his work but sought further details.

Question

In Aylesbury town centre, we have some fantastic businesses, from Darlington’s to the Rockwood pub and Nafees bakery. They provide an amazing service to the community, but with issues such as traffic, parking and antisocial behaviour, they can struggle to get customers into town and through their doors. I congratulate the Minister on the work he is doing, but can he tell us more about how his small business strategy will support our high streets and town centres, like Aylesbury, to thrive?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Gareth Thomas)

I very much enjoyed my visit to my hon. Friend’s constituency and the roundtable we had with some of the fantastic businesses there. I very much hope that Conservative-controlled Buckinghamshire council will finally get its act together and sort out some of the traffic and parking issues she mentioned. We will set out our plans to do more to help small businesses across the country, including in Aylesbury, in our SME strategy. One particular measure that we will be able to take action on is to improve access to finance for small businesses, following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s significant increase in the capacity of the British Business Bank yesterday.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address traffic and parking issues directly

How: Working With Councils, Hoping They Will Sort Out

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Q2 Joe Powell Lab Kensington and Bayswater
Crime & Law Enforcement Taxation Business & Trade
Context

The MP mentioned specific business types in his constituency that are linked to criminal activities such as VAT evasion, money laundering and serious organised crime. He requested detailed steps the government is taking.

Question

Small businesses on our high streets across my constituency, from Earl’s Court Road to Queensway, Notting Hill Gate and Portobello Road, are fed up of being blighted by candy shops, low-grade souvenir shops, Harry Potter shops and even barbershops, with accusations of VAT and business rates evasion and even links to money laundering and serious organised crime. Can the Minister outline what steps the Department is taking, in conjunction with the Minister responsible for high streets, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the National Crime Agency, to crack down on these operations and create a legitimate level playing field for our small businesses?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

I recognise that my hon. Friend has been very persistent on this issue, and he is entirely right to be so. We have been working with colleagues in the Home Office and the National Crime Agency to take action to crack down on illegitimate businesses that threaten to undermine the legitimate ones that exist on all of our high streets. In March, the National Economic Crime Centre co-ordinated a three-week crackdown on barbershops and other cash-intensive businesses where there were concerns, visiting almost 400 premises and securing freezing orders over a series of bank accounts totalling more than £1 million.

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Q3 Melanie Onn Lab Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP echoed concerns about high streets being dominated by illegal vape shops and barbershops involved in money laundering and organized crime. She requested details of the government's strategy.

Question

I thank the Minister for his answer, but I really do need to press him, because my constituents in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes are as fed up as those of my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington and Bayswater (Joe Powell) with seeing high streets dominated by dodgy vape shops and unlicensed barbers. While some of those businesses are legitimate, a recent BBC investigative report shows that many are involved in money laundering and organised crime. Obviously, the Minister is aware of the situation, but is he working closely with the Home Office to try to tackle this blight? We probably need a national strategy, not a three-week operation.

Answer from Gareth Thomas

My hon. Friend is right to say that this is not just an issue for our high streets, such as those mentioned by our hon. Friend the Member for Kensington and Bayswater (Joe Powell), but a concern up and down the country. The National Crime Agency and Home Office colleagues are seeking to take action against illegitimate businesses, and my hon. Friend will recognise that the announcement in yesterday’s spending review of additional police officers, with more to come over the spending review period, will help us with that activity.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify a national strategy but mentioned ongoing actions

How: Mentioning Ongoing Efforts, Acknowledging Need For Action

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Q4 Gareth Thomas Labour (Co-op)
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The context is a discussion about the current economic situation inherited by the government due to previous decisions made by the opposition party, particularly regarding tax policies. The question focuses on the assistance provided to small businesses.

Question

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman— I say this gently to him—will have explained to that particular business that we inherited a very difficult economic situation because of the decisions that his party took, including on tax, but our small business strategy will set out more plans to help small businesses, such as the one in his constituency.

Answer from Gareth Thomas

Our business rates relief package will make a significant difference for retail, hospitality and leisure. The small business strategy will be published shortly.

Answered
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