Retail Sector: High Street

Lord Skelmersdale Excerpts

Thursday 17th September 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, I can confirm that. The business rates review will report at the end of the year.

[Lord Skelmersdale (Con)]

My Lords, the Minister prides herself on the fact that unoccupancy rates have fallen. Is it not a fact that most of the incoming renters of these shops are food outlets? How does that help people who want to buy other equipment and goods from high street shops?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, I think it is true that incoming occupants of high streets are a mixture. I do not have a disaggregated number for what proportion is food retail, but certainly putting more housing—which this country desperately needs—into a town centre increases the footfall in that town centre.