Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Norris Excerpts

Tuesday 9th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Rishi Sunak]

My hon. Friend is right to raise this important issue, as he has done with me several times on behalf of his local businesses. He is right that we are reviewing business rates. We are in the midst of that process. The next stage will be to publish all the consultation responses that we have received, which will happen shortly, and we will take forward the policy process over the course of this year. We outlined many options for potential reforms in the paper. I look forward to receiving from him some ideas on what the reforms might be. In the short term, we are providing a £6 billion tax cut in business rates, delivering a 75% discount on business rates for the vast majority of small and medium-sized businesses as they emerge from this pandemic.

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

Every year of delay in integrated rail improvements in the midlands and the north means a missed £5 billion boost for our economy as well as delaying an additional 150,000 jobs. The Chancellor’s Build Back Better plan promises the long-awaited integrated rail plan within three months. Will he confirm that this is an absolute maximum, and will he or one of his Ministers meet me and regional businesses to hear more about our exciting plans for our community?

[Rishi Sunak]

This Government are committed to record amounts of investment in infrastructure, both road and rail, as we heard from my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary earlier. The Budget announced upgrades for several stations in and around the midlands after representations that we heard from the fantastic Mayor, Andy Street, about the needs of his area. We remain committed to publishing the integrated rail plan in due course.