All 1 Debates between Lord Mackinlay of Richborough and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

Tue 2nd Apr 2019
Business Rates
Commons Chamber
(Adjournment Debate)

Business Rates

Debate between Lord Mackinlay of Richborough and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
Tuesday 2nd April 2019

(5 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Portrait Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
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I well remember meeting my hon. Friend for the first time in the Eight Bells pub in 1997, when we were both a little younger—[Interruption.] She says, in parentheses from a sedentary position, “better looking”—I was not going to say that in case I came within the bounds of the code, which I think might well touch on the sort of remark that I might make. Nevertheless, I wholly concur with her sedentary remark.

Lord Mackinlay of Richborough Portrait Craig Mackinlay (South Thanet) (Con)
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I put on record that I have been trying to take action for a number of years to exempt public conveniences from business rates. Especially in respect of the towns in my constituency—Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Cliftonville are tourist areas—I have always said that public loos are often the first thing that people use and the last thing that they remember, and they should be thus exempted.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Portrait Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
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I am sure that the tourists in my constituency will be greatly relieved to hear what my hon. Friend has to say. In my constituency, which is very dependent on tourism, I have been having a big battle with the local council to keep public conveniences open, because it is really important. If someone comes for a day’s outing to the Cotswolds or goes to my hon. Friend’s constituency, they cannot last all day. They need somewhere to go, and I was delighted when the Government gave that sort of relief.