Business Rates Avoidance Schemes

Debate between Baroness Buscombe and Lord Wilson of Sedgefield

Wednesday 16th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab)]

We are talking about snails, so I do not know how quickly we will act on this. I will look into this and write to my noble friend.

[Baroness Buscombe (Con)]

My Lords, is there not a problem with the two-tier system that we have on our high streets? Many thousands of shops are opening up all over our villages, towns and cities, most of which do not have to pay any taxes and are cash only. We know that they do not even require any customers because their focus is organised crime. Why should legal shops have to pay their taxes when they are right next door to others that are committing crime and no one is touching them?

[Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab)]

I accept that point. We have just introduced something to look at the impact we could have on shops that do not have any social responsibility, such as vape shops, through additional rates, et cetera, so that we can invest in shops in those communities that do a really good job, especially in rural areas. Living in a village, I know very well how important the local shop is.