Christopher Pincher
Main Page: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)
20. What steps he is taking to help local firms with their business rate bills in (a) England, (b) Tamworth and (c) Lichfield.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis)
We have provided a £1 billion business rates package for 2014-15, including the £1,000 discount that will benefit smaller shops, pubs and restaurants, of which there are about 280 in Tamworth and 540 in Lichfield. We have also introduced a 50% discount for businesses taking on long-term empty shops, and as I said earlier, we have doubled small business rate relief for another year, helping more than 500,000 businesses.
Christopher Pincher
Is my hon. Friend as concerned as I am about Labour’s high street policy review, which suggests that business rates may be levied on farm land? Does he not agree that—
Mr Speaker
Order. I am sure that the Minister’s views on Labour party policy would be of great interest and possibly a source of edification, but they are not relevant now, because this is about Ministers’ responsibility for Ministers’ policies and those of the Government. The wry smile of the hon. Member for Tamworth (Christopher Pincher) suggests that he is well aware of that fact.
Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)
Mr Speaker, I know my place; regrettably, you appear to know it too.
Will the Secretary of State rule out levying business rates on farmland—as some have suggested—because that will hit farmers and will also hike the price of food for hard-working families?
Mr Speaker
The hon. Gentleman has put the same question—he just sanitised it.