Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Brandon Lewis and Christopher Pincher(10 years, 2 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Brandon Lewis
The hon. Gentleman makes an interesting point. However, affordable housing starts in 2013-14 show an increase on the previous year, with a large percentage of them being in London. I remind him of what I said a few moments ago: under this Government average rents are down in real terms year on year, not just elsewhere in England but in London. It has been clear from the suggestions by Labour Members that the idea of short-term gimmicks such as rent controls are simply something from the past.
Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)
3. What steps he is taking to (a) encourage development on brownfield land and (b) bring empty buildings back into use.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Brandon Lewis and Christopher Pincher
Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)
20. What steps he is taking to help local firms with their business rate bills in (a) England, (b) Tamworth and (c) Lichfield.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis)
We have provided a £1 billion business rates package for 2014-15, including the £1,000 discount that will benefit smaller shops, pubs and restaurants, of which there are about 280 in Tamworth and 540 in Lichfield. We have also introduced a 50% discount for businesses taking on long-term empty shops, and as I said earlier, we have doubled small business rate relief for another year, helping more than 500,000 businesses.
Christopher Pincher
Is my hon. Friend as concerned as I am about Labour’s high street policy review, which suggests that business rates may be levied on farm land? Does he not agree that—