Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Claire Hazelgrove

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dan Tomlinson]

The hon. Member raises an important point. We need to ensure that we see higher economic growth in every part of the country, and that includes the north, the east, the west and the south-west of England. We have many fantastic Members on both sides of the House who are working and advocating for their communities. We will ensure that we drive and deepen devolution in areas that do not yet have a mayor. The Prime Minister has discussed the need to ensure that those who do not want to have a mayor—he highlighted Cornwall—can have specific further devolution powers. One of the examples we are looking at not too far from the hon. Member’s constituency, I believe, is place-based business cases, so that we can unlock investment in particular parts of the country; one of the places that we are looking at in detail is Plymouth.

[Claire Hazelgrove (Filton and Bradley Stoke) (Lab)]

3. What discussions he has had with representatives of pubs on the potential impact of business rates relief on the hospitality sector.