Arcadia and Debenhams: Business Support and Job Retention

Charlotte Nichols Excerpts
Wednesday 2nd December 2020

(3 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Paul Scully Portrait Paul Scully
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I know Guildford very well. It is a destination for residents around Surrey and further afield. Yes, we must all work together to get the balance right so that we do not hollow out our town centres, including Guildford.

Charlotte Nichols Portrait Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) (Lab)
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The Debenhams liquidation is a tragedy not only for the thousands of Debenhams employees but for all retailers in shopping centres like Warrington’s Golden Square, where Debenhams is the anchor department store driving footfall for the whole centre. With Arcadia brand stores in Golden Square also at risk, and confidence in the wider retail sector waning, what specific support will shopping centres like Golden Square get to protect all its retailers, their employees, and the vibrancy of our town centres?

Paul Scully Portrait Paul Scully
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In terms of shopping centres it is really important that we get the balance right between landlords and tenants. The moratorium helps tenants but clearly does not help landlords, so we have to get the balance right. We will work with the retail sector to try to achieve that balance in the weeks and months to come.