I apologise to the Minister for interrupting, but before she sits down, can she address this point? One of the key arguments made—in that group of amendments to which the noble Baroness referred—by the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman of Ullock, and by myself and my noble friends Lord Shipley and Lady Thornhill, was about the huge disparity in business rates between online retailers and high street town centre retailers. I will repeat a comparator that I have mentioned previously. A well-known online retailer—not many miles distant from me—pays £45 per square metre in business rates on its premises, whereas a small town high street shop near me pays £240 per square metre. It is that vast difference that is penalising our town centre shops. This is the heart of the problem that this clause is trying to address, and we are supportive of that—but unless we deal with this big difference, nothing much will change. I would be glad to hear from the Minister what the Government intend to do about business rates.
Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
Proceeding contribution from
Baroness Pinnock
(Liberal Democrat)
in the House of Lords on Monday, 22 May 2023.
It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL)
and
Debate on bills on Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.
About this proceeding contribution
Reference
830 c628 Session
2022-23Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamberSubjects
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2023-06-30 07:38:29 +0100
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