Oral Answers to Questions

David Johnston Excerpts

Tuesday 7th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Karl MᶜCartney (Lincoln) (Con)]

What fiscal steps he is taking to support high street businesses affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

[David Johnston (Wantage) (Con)]

What fiscal steps he is taking to support high street businesses affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jesse Norman]

It would be wrong for me, as a Minister, to offer a view on this, but I can tell my hon. Friend that my personal experience has been that the more streamlined, the clearer the lines of authority and the more integrated and shared approach that is taken, the more effective the infrastructure delivery is likely to be.

[David Johnston]

I have been visiting high-street businesses in Wantage, Didcot, Faringdon and elsewhere, and they are hugely grateful for the furlough scheme, the grant scheme and the business rates holiday, but what they most want now is footfall. Does my right hon. Friend agree that that should be the priority? Will he confirm that he is considering all measures to increase footfall on the high street?

[Jesse Norman]

I absolutely confirm that. The reason we have backed high-street firms so strongly all the way through is precisely that we recognise the central importance of these sectors to getting Britain’s high streets back firing on all cylinders. My hon. Friend will know that we have also introduced the Business and Planning Bill to help businesses in England get back on their feet, and we have accelerated nearly £100 million of investment in town centres and high streets, through the towns fund this year, to the same end.