Oral Answers to Questions

Chloe Smith Excerpts

Monday 8th September 2014 Commons Chamber

[Stephen McPartland (Stevenage) (Con)]

5. How many shops in (a) England and (b) Stevenage constituency have benefited from the reduction in business rates.

[Chloe Smith (Norwich North) (Con)]

6. How many shops in (a) England, (b) Norwich local authority area and (c) Broadland local authority area have benefited from the reduction in business rates.

[Margot James (Stourbridge) (Con)]

10. How many shops in (a) England and (b) Stourbridge constituency have benefited from the reduction in business rates.

--- Later in debate ---

[Kris Hopkins]

I know that my hon. Friend is absolutely passionate about supporting people in Stevenage and that he is ruthless in pursuit of the Labour council, which yet again has failed local businesses. I am sure we can offer our support to his campaign and those businesses.

[Chloe Smith]

This tax cut for small shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants is already getting real help to hundreds of businesses in my constituency, and I think it is sad—perhaps the Minister agrees with me—that no Opposition Members rise to support it. Would the Minister like to give a message to Dixie’s café in my constituency—a regular pit stop for hungry Conservative canvassers—about the bill change that it already welcomes?

[Kris Hopkins]

As my hon. Friend observes, and as many of us have seen, the Labour party is not business-friendly, unlike those campaigners who are supporting Dixie’s café and are out seeking to secure a Conservative majority while buying coffee and bacon sandwiches from what I am sure is a fantastic local shop.