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Businesses in Rural Areas
18 June 2025
Lead MP
Steff Aquarone
North Norfolk
LD
Responding Minister
Gareth Thomas
Tags
EconomyEmploymentTransportBrexit
Word Count: 14668
Other Contributors: 31
At a Glance
Steff Aquarone raised concerns about businesses in rural areas in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Steff Aquarone calls for better funding for rural bus services and improved public transport connections to support business development and job opportunities.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The debate highlights the challenges faced by rural businesses, including the closure of local bank branches, inadequate public transport systems, and difficulties in attracting and retaining a skilled workforce due to lack of access to training and apprenticeships.
Adam Dance
LD
Yeovil
There are over 3,400 fantastic businesses in Yeovil that provide amazing services for the community. However, thanks to terrible Government Budgets and unfair trade deals, many businesses do not feel supported by central Government. The Government changes to national insurance are an unfair jobs tax, and there is a need to strengthen the grocery code to support farmers.
Adrian Ramsay
Green
Waveney Valley
Emphasised the importance of improving rural bus services, noting that inadequate transportation affects both economic growth and social isolation.
Mid Sussex
Celebrated the exceptional English wine produced by Albourne Estate in her constituency, stressing the importance of devolution for economic growth.
Alison Hume
Lab
Scarborough and Whitby
Raises concern about the increase in short-term holiday lets forcing local people out, making it hard to employ staff. Calls on the Government to urgently bring forward registration of such lets.
Brian Mathew
LD
Melksham and Devizes
Agreed with the need for better public transport connections to enhance business development in market towns.
Constituency Not Provided
In the spending review, rural England received only a seventh of the money allocated for urban areas, highlighting an insufficient investment in rural bus services that would boost town centres and high streets.
Damian Hinds
Con
East Hampshire
Called on the Minister to provide updates on the family farm tax proposal, including potential alternatives such as the clawback scheme. Emphasized the need for better connectivity and additional challenges faced by rural businesses due to cuts in other areas.
Dave Robertson
Lab
Lichfield
Poor connectivity hinders local businesses in Lichfield and Burntwood. BT Openreach infrastructure costs are 20 times higher in rural areas, and the roll-out of 5G is the slowest among G7 countries.
Winchester
Highlighted the importance of accessible courses for students from all backgrounds to train in skills needed by the local economy, using Sparsholt agricultural college as an example.
Elaine Stewart
Lab
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Barr village in south Ayrshire finally has mobile phone signal after years of delay. Businesses there face challenges such as finding local talent with the right skills for new wind farm projects and inadequate road connectivity which hinders access to work.
Gareth Thomas
Lab
Gower
Agreed with Jamie Stone's suggestion and confirmed that officials would be interested in learning from the experience of successful banking hubs.
Gideon Amos
LD
Taunton and Wellington
Emphasises the importance of reliable infrastructure and support for rural businesses. Discusses transport issues and banking access in Somerset, advocating for fairness and a level playing field.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
The Opposition argues for low tax, light-touch regulation, and a level playing field for rural enterprise.
James Naish
Lab
Rushcliffe
Questions the need for a clear and defined rural strategy that ties all elements together to release potential of rural Britain, referencing past White Papers with long gaps in between.
Jamie Stone
LD
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
The gov.uk One website faces customer services issues, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise needs to be rebuilt to its former capacity. Asked the Minister to visit a banking hub opening in Wick, which could provide insights for other remote areas.
Suffolk Coastal
Orford General Store was highly commended in the Countryside Alliance’s national award category for its support of local and regional food producers, demonstrating the importance of rural businesses.
Chichester
Rural communities face a vicious circle of declining transport provision leading to service closures, which in turn affects economic activity. The Member's constituency is experiencing the loss of a GP surgery due to lack of public transport.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Rural businesses in Northern Ireland are a vital part of the economy, with 58% located in rural areas. Support for these businesses is available through various initiatives such as the rural business investment scheme and the development grant scheme administered by Ards and North Down council.
Joe Morris
Lab
Hexham
He emphasises the importance of road infrastructure for tourism businesses and calls for better communication from councils about roadworks to avoid negative impacts on bookings.
John Milne
LD
Horsham
Acknowledged that while funding is welcome, a long-term commitment to rural infrastructure provision is essential.
Llinos Medi
PC
Ynys Môn
Calls for fair R&D funding policy reflecting Wales's population share and targets half of Government business enterprise expenditure on SMEs.
Maya Ellis
Lab
Ribble Valley
The Ribble Valley constituency is home to thriving businesses but faces the loss of business support funding following the spending review. The shared prosperity fund will end in 2026, threatening innovative and high-growth rural businesses without mayoral areas.
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
Made a case for real support from the Government for community benefit from renewable energy to transform rural Britain's economy. Proposes increasing the VAT threshold from £90,000 to £250,000 to enable more sole traders to employ apprentices or grow into SMEs. Points out the disparity in energy prices between rural and urban areas, highlighting that businesses in rural areas pay significantly more per kilowatt for their energy.
Honiton and Sidmouth
Rural businesses face barriers including unreliable broadband access. Daniel Lennox’s home-based business Stagely faces challenges due to lack of full-fibre broadband, highlighting the need for improved connectivity.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
Small rural businesses in Glastonbury and Somerton face significant challenges due to increased employer national insurance contributions. The Kings Arms pub and Overt Locke hardware store are at risk of closure due to changes in business rates, highlighting the need for a better system.
Sarah Olney
LD
Richmond Park
Small businesses have faced tough times due to high bills, soaring energy costs, transport costs, and supply chain issues. The changes to national insurance contributions announced by this Government are an unfair jobs tax that will hit small businesses already struggling with rising energy prices.
Ashley Fox
Con
Bridgwater
Critiques Labour’s family farm tax and the scrapping of the sustainable farming incentive scheme. Highlights broadband issues in Somerset, questioning the Government's prioritisation of digital infrastructure for rural areas.
Suella Braverman
Con
Fareham and Waterlooville
Emphasised the need for more awareness among police forces regarding illegal encampments and supported Greg Smith's work on preventing agricultural machinery thefts.
Terry Jermy
Lab
South West Norfolk
Local businesses in South West Norfolk struggle with skills shortages, often having to bring engineers from abroad. Connectivity issues are also a major concern.
Tim Roca
Con
Macclesfield
Highlights challenges faced by residents of Macclesfield due to unreliable public transport and lack of digital connectivity, affecting local businesses. Emphasises the importance of rural economy investment.
Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Local businesses face mounting pressures such as high costs of business, employer’s national insurance increases, and rising energy bills. The cost of living impacts customers' purchasing decisions.
Government Response
Gareth Thomas
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Government Response
The Government recognise the importance of supporting rural businesses by improving infrastructure, offering financial support through the British Business Bank, and providing free advice through growth hubs. They are investing over £2.3 billion in local transport links and £1.9 billion in digital connectivity to enhance business access to markets and talent. Discussed investments in rural areas through schemes like the £33 million rural England prosperity fund, £2.7 billion annual support for sustainable farming, and efforts to enhance banking access via hubs. Mentioned a future Green Paper on Post Office services. Addressed tax questions with reference to inherited financial challenges. Emphasised trade deals' significance for rural businesses.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.