Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Shockat Adam(2 days, 9 hours ago)
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Dan Tomlinson
My hon. Friend is right to raise the importance of reindustrialisation. Too many places were harmed by the deindustrialisation that accelerated in the 1980s. The need for more good jobs in more parts of England matters in the south, as well as in the north; it matters in our towns, as well as in our urban centres; and, of course, it matters in Portsmouth too. My hon. Friend is a strong advocate for her community, and I look forward to working with her to build on Portsmouth’s proud industrial and maritime strengths.
Shockat Adam (Leicester South) (Ind)
As chair of the all-party parliamentary group for ethics and sustainability in fashion, I ask why our military and NHS uniforms are made overseas in countries like China, when factories in my constituency are ready, and can stimulate the local economy and provide jobs. Will the Minister use public procurement to bring advanced textile manufacturing back to Britain and will he meet me to discuss how?
Dan Tomlinson
The hon. Member raises an important issue. It also touches on the broader topic that this Government are focusing on relentlessly: through reforms to procurement, backing British business and ensuring that more of the goods and services that the British Government buy are built and made here in the UK.
Topical Questions
Business Rates: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Shockat Adam(9 months, 2 weeks ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.
Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.
This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record
Dan Tomlinson
When it comes to support for businesses, we are making sure that we bring back economic stability to this country, with six interest rate cuts that will reduce the cost of borrowing for businesses and households. The economic stability that we have provided has meant that wages went up faster in the first year of this Government than they did in the whole first 10 years of the previous Government. We are supporting people up and down the country with the cost of living and providing stability for businesses in the corporation tax system, keeping it at the lowest rate in the G7 as part of our commitment to our corporate tax road map.
Shockat Adam (Leicester South) (Ind)
One of the worst things for business owners in my constituency is the unpredictability of running a business. They need to know, and it is simply killing them. They already have to deal with poor parking, a rise in antisocial behaviour and rises in national insurance contributions, wage costs and energy costs. Now, when they thought that they were going to have a reduction in business rates, they are possibly going to have a rise instead. Can the Minister alleviate their fears and put them out of their misery? What is it going to be? Is it going to rise or is it going to stay the same?
Dan Tomlinson
We want to provide stability in our taxation system, and one of the things that the Government are seeking to do in the coming years is to continue to have economic stability—something that was lacking for so long under the previous Government. That is why we are focusing on getting Government borrowing down in every year of the forecast, and it will fall faster in this country than in any other G7 economy. When it comes to business rates, the reforms that we set out in the Budget will rebalance the system to provide a permanently lower tax rate—the multiplier for those small businesses on the high street.